The Alexander Mountain fire near Loveland CO has "exploded" to over 3000 acres and now there's another one only 8 miles away. At least one home has been destroyed and they've run out of places to keep large livestock (mainly the Boulder County Fairgrounds). That seems to be a huge problem from these horsey areas --it was repeatedly addressed in the news reports. There were vidimages of people riding their horses out of the area.
Lost track, but there are a couple of fires in Colorado besides those two, and many more out here in the western states.
Fire restrictions have been instituted all over Colorado. No cook fires, no parking in grassy areas, outdoor smokers will be shot on sight in summary judgement, etc.
There's an "all hands on deck" call for all firefighting and related personnel. I answered one of those ("bring shovel") years ago and helped fight a fire on the Chautauqua grounds in Boulder, mainly exposing earth by shoveling vegetation away to form firebreaks. If you're called, bring shovel, hatchet, and gloves.
Wind has died down but expected to come up again, hot, dry, but rain expectations are optimistic.
My pessimism says there'll be enough raininess to cause some more lightning fires, but not enough to inhibit those fires.
Terry, 230RN