This is the most stressed I have felt in a very long time. North Colorado Springs is almost too devasting to look at right now. Going to work everyday at the Hampton by the fire, hearing all the horror stories, and families crying to me is almost too much for me to handle. My heart just aches for this beautiful city and the people in it who are suffering. Every hotel in 60 miles of the fire is completely sold out. I pray for people to be comforted and protected during this time.
This was the first picture I took on Saturday, June 23rd in the afternoon. I was running to Wal-Mart real fast, and I noticed all this smoke in the air. I heard rumors of a fire, but I just figured it was a small fire (since it is fire season right now). I honestly wasn't too worried about it...how wrong was I. It never really hit me until I was driving to work on Monday morning how bad of a situation this really was. This picture was taken about 30 minutes away!
I took this picture on Tuesday afternoon about 2:30 when I was leaving the hotel. It looked about the same. Still worried, but had no idea that the wind/weather was going to have a shift the wrong direction. Take note that the heat is almost unreal here. Colorado Springs almost NEVER reaches the 100's and this was the week that we got those tempertures.
This one is taken in the early evening on Tuesday night from my back portch. Remember, this is taken about 30 miles from the actual flames!! I had no idea what I was getting myself into for the next morning at work. It was so I just feel very blessed right now to have my home and my family safe.
Going into work on Wednesday morning was at an all time high for EVERYONE...guests, staff, and the community. Tuesday night, there was a massive change in the wind. Figher fighters were not planning for the wind change or the stregnth of it. The fire had tripled by the time I got to work the next morning. (I couldn't even sleep the night before because of how worried I was for everyone) The phones at work were NON STOP FOR 24 HOURS!!! I kid you not. Families were everywhere at the property crying and devasted. We have a policeman in house right now who watched his own house burn to the ground. Every hotel in 60+ miles is completely sold out. I was trying so hard not to lose everything inside of me. It was a very emotional day for everyone...words to do not come close to how on felt on this day. I now feel like I have a glimps of how the people of New York City felt on September 11th. The second I got into my car that day I just lost it. My heart was aching for those families who are left with nothing. We had 27 people sleeping in our MEETING ROOM ON THE FLOOR. We felt like it was the right thing to do to help our own people. MOST people were very gracious with us and thankful for the help...there were definately some I wish I could have taken outside for beating though (selfish, stuck up, bitches...after a super long day, they are lucky to still be alive) I have also listed below some of the pictures going around on the news. It is so devasting to look at. Colorado Springs is such a beautiful place to live, and it is horrible to see it all up in smoke. This is going to be a week I will not forget. It has made me realize that I can't take life for granted. I know no one was lost in the fire, but just seeing the devastation, and fear in people's eyes is enough to make you think twice about how precious life really is.
