Firefighters are the best!

So as most of you know, there was a huge fire (actually a couple) in Colorado. The 'Fourmile Fire' was approximately 3 miles due west of my house. Scary stuff. Although, I feel extremely fortunate. 166 homes were lost in the 7000 acre fire that tore its way through the mountains JUST west of Boulder. It's been so sad to learn about family and high school friends losing their homes :( They're saying now that the fire was caused by a smoldering fire pit on someone's property rather than the initial theory of someone hitting a propane tank with a car (which they would've known was not possible if they had just watched a little more 'Myth Busters').

On the first day of the fire, I was sure there was about to be a zombie apocalypse. All of North Boulder was extremely smoky but the sun was trying to peek through giving off an eerie red glow. There were also large white and black ashes falling out of the sky. We knew right away that it was a huge, dangerous fire.

Ashes on our driveway

Monday night the smoke pushed up a bit which, among all the terrible destruction, allowed for some really beautiful pictures:

A slurry bomber and the setting sun behind the smoke

Beauty in the breakdown

Smoky sunset

Slurry bomber flying over our house

On Thursday (Day 4 of the fire), I decided to make 150 cookies for the firefighters whom were all camping out at the Boulder Reservoir (where I work every summer).

Thank you for saving our town!!

Lindsey and I brought the cookies over and after witnessing the firefighters coming back from the fire thirsty, hungry, tired and covered in soot, we quickly jumped into volunteering to give them all of the things that the community had donated - including food from many restaurants, cases and cases and cases of Gatorade and water, socks, t-shirts, baby wipes (for their poor sooty faces!), chapstick, etc. We stayed until 11:30 p.m. and heading back at 6 a.m. to help some more. The shifts that the firefighters were pulling were the 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. shift or the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift. Friday morning, I got the pleasure to thank and assist firefighters from all over the state and states surrounding Colorado. I also got to see my good friend Fred whom is a firefighter. It was amazing. They are all up there risking their lives and own homes to save other peoples' and our town and they were thanking ME for handing them a water and a cup of coffee. Crazy. I have a new respect for firefighters. They are definitely a great group of very selfless people. Anyways, with the Boulder fire 90% contained tonight, a bunch of them have headed up to the 600 acre fire that started 30 miles north of here yesterday!

Anyways, the point is that this crazy fire is almost over and we desperately need some moisture in Colorado...please get your rain dance on. Thanks!!

And thank you firefighters!!! We all love you!! xo