US

Here Are the 10 Most Gripping Photos From the Devastating Colorado Wildfires

(The Blaze/AP) Gaining steam over the weekend and continuing to smolder through Thursday, raging wildfires roared through neighborhoods and forced 32,000 residents of Colorado Springs to flee their homes.

The 24-square mile fire scorched the edges of the U.S. Air Force Academy on Wednesday. Thick smoke and towering flames cloaked the full scope of damage to Colorado’s second-largest city.

A separate fire burning in northern Colorado has grown to 136-square miles and destroyed 257 homes.

CBS Local reports the FBI and other law enforcement are investigating what started the blaze in case it was related to criminal activity.

Check out this slideshow showing some of the top images the Blaze picked out of the devastating scene:

If you have any images of your own, send them our way.

CBS Local reports a firefighter saying the fires are like something you would see in a Hollywood movie:

“I’m a veteran of 20 years and it was like a movie scene,” said Denver Firefighter Lt. Mike Somma, who led a crew that battled the blaze overnight.

“The whole side of the mountain was on fire. That’s the only way I could describe it to you,” said Somma.

He said the Denver crews had one mission: save homes. Somma said they would turn on sprinkler systems and garden hoses to help quell flames and toss patio cushions away from homes to kill potential fire sources.

“One house burned to the ground, another would be standing then the next one was on fire,” said Somma.

Elsewhere in the West, wildfires in central Utah and Billings, Mont., have each destroyed dozens of homes and forced hundreds of evacuations. Another wildfire in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest has charred about 19 square miles as of Wednesday.

President Barack Obama plans to tour the Colorado Springs area on Friday.

A White House statement said Obama “made clear that he has directed his team to remain focused on the fires.” The president is expected to meet with firefighters and view the damage in Colorado. Federal support is also being provided to firefighters in Alaska, Arizona, California, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Obama told the two Colorado officials to identify any other help the government can provide.

Colorado is considered one of the toss-up states that could swing the election in November to Obama or his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney.

If you want to learn how to help those affected by the fires, check out the Help Colorado Now website here.

Comments (82)

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  • tajloc
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 4:58pm

    Keep yo hands offa my state. We are not pro or libs. Many of us are fighting for a conservative sweep of the congress. We don’t need no stinkin planes or feds. we are now just getting rid of some dangerous fuel. Here on the Western slope we want to secedeform the US.
    Rom 8 28

    Report Post »  
  • Papaganoosh
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 4:14pm

    Has anyone yet made the connection that in early May, the FBI issued a warning that Al Queda terrorists were planning on using wildfires in the Western US as a new terror attack?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnXGUuAd70U

    Report Post »  
    • Lcpinco
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:44pm

      I have but couldn’t remember where I had seen the info. Thanks for posting it.

      Report Post »  
    • Totally Domestic
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:18pm

      They do this all the time in Israel. Should be considered seriously.

      Report Post »  
    • ScottG-CO
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 11:28pm

      So the terrorists are using the weather now…………….those bastages have found a way to harness lightning!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • BrownWaterVet
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 3:00am

      347 homes destroyed. Unknown if businesses were destroyed. Unknown how many damaged. One person dead & at least one missing. Sad day.

      Semper Fortis

      Report Post »  
    • Papaganoosh
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:19am

      Most of these fires have been caused by humans, not lightning.
      http://www.utahfireinfo.gov/

      Report Post »  
    • Tigress1
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:40pm

      Very interesting. I wonder if they would even tell us if it was caused by terrorists. Might be too politically incorrect.

      Report Post » Tigress1  
  • Bottomgun
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 4:07pm

    These photos are telling but I found a page full of pics that are epic in comparison: http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2012/06/27/colorado-wildfires-waldo-canyon-fire-colorado-springs/5732/

    Report Post » Bottomgun  
    • psadie
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 6:16pm

      WOW. Incredible. Thank you.

      Report Post »  
    • time4tea77
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 9:40pm

      Unbelievable pics. We has close calls like that in Texas last year.

      How are so many fires being started?

      Report Post »  
    • ScottG-CO
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 11:48pm

      @Time- haven’t you ever seen one of those little black clouds that somehow generates enough energy to make lightning? They happen here quite often and combined with the drought we are experiencing, it really gets to “sparking”!

      It’s those darned wind farms………..trust me.

      Report Post »  
  • LeftistsAreRegressive
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 4:02pm

    The people of Colorado are in my prayers during this trying time.

    Report Post »  
  • Mathchopper
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 3:59pm

    Why would any Conservative choose to live in a fire zone or… a flood zone. Could it be they’re closet liberals?

    Report Post »  
    • pattik
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 5:06pm

      What a stupid and insensitive comment…Michelle Malkin lives in Colorado Springs, been evacuated…think she is a “closet liberal”?????

      Report Post » pattik  
    • Belovedsword
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:10pm

      My mom, who was wooed from the darkside years ago, and my father, a retired major, have evacuated from the Waldo Canyon fire…we will be thankful if they escape with only smoke damage. The city is full of retired military, both army and air force, and also is home to many Christian organizations, including Focus on the Family and Community Bible Study. Conservatives are a plenty in Colorado Springs, including in the surrounding foothills. But that aside,please don’t make this a political issue. In all my 38 years here, I have never seen such a fire, much less on this side of the mountain …it literally looked like the mountain exploded Tuesday afternoon! Good people have lost everything. … 200-300 houses gone in a matter of hours. Up at the High Park Fire, upwards of 250 homes are gone.
      As brothers and sisters in Christ, in desperation and boldness, I plead for you to show love for one another by acting in some way that will help…prayer, donations, whatever …but please do something ….the love we are called to is an action not a sweet mushy feeling. Thanks.

      Report Post »  
    • COFemale
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:11pm

      I’ve known a lot of jerks in my lifetime and you are no different. Anywhere you live, you are subject to mother nature, even your idiot A$$.

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • Jase
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 9:14pm

      Yeah, that was a dumb comment, especially since Colorado Springs is one of the most conservative cities in America.

      I live here BECAUSE it is close to the mountains.

      Report Post » Jase  
  • Twinspeedr
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 3:47pm

    Like of not people this is Judgement time. During the same time time period that World has been circling the bowl about to go down, Colorado has been leading the charge into the sewer with of the most dramatic reversals of morals and and family values. This conservative state has had such an influx of money and influence (not to mention liberal Californians) in the past 20 years that it now embraces “tax and spend” wealth redistribution, wasteful “make-work” green initiatives, terrible energy policies, and the ever-present “we’re all gay now” mantra of 20-teen pop culture and this has kindled the wrath of YHVH. Stand by folks, the whole world is being served a heaping helping of Judgement over the next few years. Have you thought about what you might change about how you conduct business during this time if it ever came? It’s here…

    Report Post » Twinspeedr  
  • Rightofwayne
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 3:40pm

    Colorado is much like Oregon. Timber cut has been reduced to a fraction of what sustainability would allow. In Oregon we cut about 3% of the annual forest growth. This means a huge overload of combustibles. In addition there has been a pine beetle kill rate of 30% or more in many areas. That leaves dead standing timber or fallen timber all over the forest. In the past, we could harvest that beetle kill timber with positive effects; removal of diseased trees along with some beetles; removal of combustibles form the stands and floor of the forest. Fires were slowed due to good forest management. Now that we cannot manage the forest due to environmental policies set by non-foresters, nature will do it for us. Much larger fires than any in history. When nature catches up, the fires will be frequent, but much smaller due to lower levels of combustibles due to the series of fires.. Which do we want, nature to manage forests with fire, or man to manage forests and benefit from their produce? I have heard it said by knowledgeable forest managers that today we have larger combustible load in our forests than what likely has existed ever before in the natural history of our planet.

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    • rickc34
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 10:46pm

      Stealthman-remember Katrina 24 hours after Jewish settelers lost their homes. I will bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you. The United States needs to mind their own business regarding Israel if we are not going to help. We have turned our back as a nation on Isrrael and God will remove his blessings. During Reagan the USA was a super power now we are a begger with a tin cup. The blessing is gone we are a pagan nation with people of comprimise in the church on Sunday.

      Report Post »  
  • stealthman
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 3:24pm

    You may not like this. But I would suggest that someone convince Obama that Israel does not have to destroy any more homes in Judea and Samaria. After three homes were destroyed in Migron last September at 2am, Hurricane Lee lit 57 wildfires in Texas in the Austin area about three hours later, and the fires destroyed over 1550 homes. That is a 500 to one ratio. Why Austin, Texas? Because it was during the George W. Bush Administration that Migron was demonized by the President of the United States. Now there are 6 apartment buildings in Beit El being threatened with demolition as early as tomorrow. Expect a destruction level increase by a factor of ten since 30 families in Beit El would be displaced. I don’t know why G-d chose Colorado for this punishment, but if it is the fall guy, then 15,000 homes will be destroyed, or G-d forbid something else will happen.

    Report Post »  
    • Belovedsword
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:29pm

      I don’t subscribe to your theology or logic. It is more the result of man’s arrogance, ineptitude, and mischief. And, I subscribe more to the theology that what has happened, God can use to work for the good of those who love him. (And, honestly no offense meant, but to select two events,world’s apart, and decide they are connected by cause and effect,makes no logical sense to me. Catastrophe, tragedy, and death happen all the time, but when they happen in concentration such as this, we seek to either ascribe it to God and make imagined leaps of rationale to find the sinful cause. ) Peace in Christ.

      Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 3:11pm

    America burning out of control…pretty appropriate for today.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Followtheway
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 2:51pm

    The Air Force Academy allows the Wicca (witch) “religion” on its campus and is doing its best to eliminate God from the military……how’s that working out for you? Our country is not longer under divine protection and we are going down just like all Godless societies have gone down in the past.

    Report Post »  
    • MBA
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 2:56pm

      Yep, Colorado is pretty liberal and voter for this unAmerican in chief who cut the budget for tankers to fight fires from the air. Not that I want Colorado destroyed (I love Colorado) but, boy, did you all get what you voted for! All that tanker money paying for the illegal in chief having a hayday in the white house while Colorado and your houses burn–how about that?

      Report Post »  
  • blair152
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 2:48pm

    If Hurricane Debby had gone to Texas, and hit Dallas, the headline you would have had here on The Blaze would have been DEBBY DOES DALLAS. :)

    Report Post »  
    • ScottG-CO
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 11:31pm

      Recently, some of the spelling errors I have seen might make it look more like

      DEBBY DUZ DALLASS

      Report Post »  
  • jagape
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 2:41pm

    Where were all these comments during the california wild fires a few years ago????

    Report Post »  
    • Jase
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 9:49pm

      They were there, but I do remember reading a lot of hateful comments like “California deserves it” etc.
      I live here in the Springs now, and I lived in San Diego during the massive Cedar Fire, which dwarfed this one. The Cedar fire burned 280,278 acres, 2,820 buildings (including 2,232 homes) and had killed 15 people.
      I think this one is currently around 16,000 acres, and I haven’t heard of any deaths yet.

      Report Post » Jase  
  • scrudge
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 2:22pm

    Ah Yes… the word GOD taken out of schools and court house buildings.. mother nature repays better than double

    Report Post »  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 1:47pm

    Hey, THE BLAZE finally got the word there were fires in our state. Gotta love those teletype machines, right?

    Report Post »  
    • momrules
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 2:34pm

      Tron……….I think we can thank Monk for this. How are you and yours? Are you in the path of the fires? Still praying here.

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:23pm

      @MOMRULES
      and
      @TRONINTHEMORNING

      Yes, I did e-mail them last night and they were able to come up with this article by this morning. It still is late and sparse.

      I sent a few e-mails to different people and it finally came together that they missed it. No other reason was given.

      If you have any other stories that are important and are missed just look for my posts and let me know. Do you know the best way to find me without reading every bleeping post?

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • momrules
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:20pm

      Monk…….I don’t know but I do read your posts every time I see them.

      Report Post »  
  • drphil69
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 1:42pm

    Nobody mentions the danger of leaving forests in their ‘natural condition.’ Overgrown with lots of dried out dead wood (it is illegal to remove a fallen tree from a national forest), the forests are tinderboxes.

    Environmentalist wackos continue to destroy human existence.

    Report Post »  
    • Thwarkmaster
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 6:56pm

      PC Kills. Environmentalist demons know exactly what they’re doing.

      Report Post » Thwarkmaster  
  • Shiroi Raion
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 1:10pm

    I’m just a few miles from one of the fires. Our representative has been complaining about the EPA because the EPA wouldn’t allow roads into the area which made fighting the fire much more difficult. I don’t know what the EPA claimed to be “saving,” but whatever it was… it’s been burned to death now… along with a woman that lived out there.
    I wonder if the fire is why we have had a sudden explosion in rabid animals showing up in the city. One person here got rabies so far that I’ve heard.
    Nice work EPA, save a bug, kill the people… is that what you’re doing?

    Report Post » Shiroi Raion  
    • ReaganBaby
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 3:36pm

      Well said, The lefts “green” agenda is not about the environment

      Report Post » ReaganBaby  
  • Tigerblood24
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 12:58pm

    Add your comments

    Report Post » Tigerblood24  
    • Jase
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:48am

      Obama is coming tomorrow to blow more hot air on us. I wonder if he will bring his roman columns.

      Report Post » Jase  
  • froggy19510
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 12:52pm

    This is a kind of medaphor for the USA burning.

    Report Post » froggy19510  
  • whatever1858
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 12:22pm

    We have Peterson Field and Schriever Air Force Base right here in Colo. Spgs. The t.v. station (Sun) contacted them and asked why the air tankers were not used on the Waldo Canyon Fire and they were told that there was chain of command that had to be followed. First federal contracted commercial air defense has to be used. Then if the fire commander has to make a request to the county, state, federal government and then orders for feds to use military. They said they have tankers on standby 24/7 and as of that time they had no orders in 2012. If the air tankers had been ordered when the fire first started, we wouldn’t have the devastation that we have now.
    Obama cut spending on contracted commercial a.d. but 1/3 this year. Why when we are sending millions to Kenya??
    The military tanks from Mississippi are rolling in St. Louis subdivisions for practice, what is this about?? Getting us used to seeing them in neighborhoods before they take us over per Obama’s orders. But yet when the fires are consuming thousands of acres of land and homes, the spending is cut and it takes days before the big guns are brought in? Commercial holds about 400 gal. where the C130′s hold 3,000 gal. each.
    We have an arsonist in Teller County, CO that has started over 25 fires in the last week, and might include the Waldo Canyon Fire. So we bring American to their knees and they’ll be ripe for takeover?
    Obama to be in CO tomorrow to assure us that he is doing all he can to assist.

    Report Post »  
    • momrules
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 12:53pm

      Al Qaida published an article calling for Muslims to start forest fires in America. They even gave a how-to guide about delayed timers, etc.

      Report Post »  
    • Tigerblood24
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 12:57pm

      You are absolutely correct. Be prepared for Obama to either the steal the election through illegal voters or to curtail the election under the guise of a national emergency. We have not seen this man at his best. Remember what Joseph Stalin said, It is not who votes but who counts the votes.
      Obama was put into office to bring this country to the end game which is complete Socialism. His race is used to suppress criticism.

      Report Post » Tigerblood24  
    • samnjoeysgrama
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 2:08pm

      You didn’t mention NORAD, as well as the others. Interesting that the Republican stronghold in a swing state is the main city burning. Pure chance? Most forest fires start from people or from lightening. We haven’t had any lightening in Lake George or the Springs in ages. That leaves arsonists, I.e. domestic terrorists. However with I25 running North from Mexico to Denver, and with Denver being a sanctuary city, they may not be domestic. Pray for rain with out wind or lightening.

      Report Post » samnjoeysgrama  
    • samnjoeysgrama
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 2:13pm

      During the Hayman fire 10 years ago, they did the same stupid delay with the tankers. We were told the local firefighting money had to be exhausted before they could get federal help from those tankers. Idiots.

      Report Post » samnjoeysgrama  
  • momrules
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 12:09pm

    God be with the people fighting these fires and with the people in the path of this destruction.
    In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior and King, amen.

    Report Post »  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 11:45am

    I live in Carbon County Utah.. and we are having the same problem.. they have evacuated several area’s! Please people we all need to do some serious praying and fasting for rain! God is sending us all a clear message! Wake up America!

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
  • pap pap
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 11:29am

    To quote that great man “The Earth is on Fire” This is about as close as Gore is gonna git.

    Report Post »  
  • pap pap
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 11:28am

    Obama “made clear that he has directed his team to remain focused on the fires.”

    Yea, just like he is focused on jobs.

    Don’t hold your breath.

    Report Post »  
    • Assunta
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 4:17pm

      In what manner is Obama focused on the fires – starting them? – just like he’s started race wars and divided our country? Obama’s such a PIG – no – wait – I don’t want to insult the pig.

      Report Post »  
  • The_Plumber_Says
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 11:15am

    Beautiful people, beautiful county, sad situation

    Report Post » The_Plumber_Says  
  • Ironeagle
    Posted on June 28, 2012 at 11:12am

    And the judgements continue to roll…30-40% of the trees in the rocky mountain region have died due to the pine beetle plague…now they burn. Rev 8:7

    Report Post » Ironeagle  
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