We had to close the clinic where I work at 6:00 due to the fires.

[Laffy Kat]

We usually stay open until 10:30 p.m. for MRI patients. I could see the fire from the clinic when I left. My son's workplace was right in the middle of the evac. zone and he couldn't go to work tonight, as the road is closed by the police. Our house is just out of the evac. zone, but if the wind picks up again we might have to skedaddle...fast. We are expecting snow tomorrow into Saturday. It can't get here fast enough for me.

Everyone else in Boulder County please stay safe!

[tosh]

1. I would send you this heavy rain

if I had the power to do that.

Wishing the best for you!

[uncle ray]

5. we do have a winter storm coming, bringing several inches of snow...

but that storm approaching is what brought the extreme winds. they are expected to slow, but not much until the snow arrives tomorrow.

[Laffy Kat]

10. And it would be appreciate, too.

It's been so very dry here. I've never seen it like this in December.

[evemac]

2. I'm in Boulder

Please stay safe. Apocalyptic.

[Laffy Kat]

11. Well, you stay safe, too!

And welcome to DU.

[LoisB]

3. Stay safe. I hope the snow comes in.

[Diamond_Dog]

4. Frightening

Please stay safe

[Irish_Dem]

6. Laffy, please stay safe.....

I hope you get a lot of snow and it hits fast.
But bug out if you have to....

[Laffy Kat]

12. Me, too!

Thanks, Irish_Dem.

[Cracklin Charlie]

7. So scary.

Boulder is a lovely town. I was just there in September.

Please stay safe, everyone.

[Wicked Blue]

8. (((Sending vibes for your safety and that of everyone in that area)))

I have a sister-in-law in Boulder and a niece in Aurora

[Laffy Kat]

14. Thanks for the vibes!

[MustLoveBeagles]

9. Stay safe Laffy Cat

[Laffy Kat]

13. Trying. Thanks!

[Walleye]

15. Damn, so 2021 had another shot in its locker. I hope that's the last catastrophe of the year

Take care of yourself and stay safe

[Irish_Dem]

16. There's a few hours left ....

[Walleye]

17. Yeah I probably spoke too soon

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

18. I used to live in Boulder itself. A somewhat long time ago, 1987-1990.

The first nine months we were in Golden, then moved to Boulder. I LOVED living there. We moved to Overland Park, KS, sigh. Anyway, if I had had the ability to rule everything, we'd have stayed there, but alas, I didn't have that power.

I suspect that old friends, whom I've long lost touch with, are being affected by this.

[SmittyWerben]

22. Interesting

I lived in Boulder as a kid...I also lived in Near Overland Park, Shawnee to be exact and graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest in 1980. I remember the winds ripping down out of the mountains in Boulder and how dry it was during the winter. a terrible combination. Always loved Boulder, but cannot afford to live there as an adult lol.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

23. Clearly we've had opposite parallel lives!

In Overland Park we lived in the Shawnee Mission school district. My sons would have gone to South, but because of very specific circumstances, mainly that my older son was being bullied, and it became clear to me that attending the middle school would not be a good idea, we wound up sending them to Barstow. For us it was an excellent choice.

If you want more details, PM me and I'll tell you, but I wouldn't be surprised if you're not all that interested.

Out of curiosity, where do you live now? I'm in Santa Fe, NM. I moved here in 2008 after my marriage came to an end. It was an excellent decision. I tell people that had I stayed in Kansas, I'd have become one of those embittered divorcees no one wants to be around. Instead, I started a new life, which was the best possible thing. Made new friends, did new things, moved on. I still have other family and friends in OP and get back there periodically.

[SmittyWerben]

29. Damn, even weirder

I live in Waco, Texas now but my wife and I will be retiring to northern New Mexico, Chama area if we can find property in that area. Parallel lives indeed, lol.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

30. Oh, my.

You will love northern New Mexico. I moved here in 2008 from OP after a divorce and have no regrets at all. Hope you can find the property that works for you.

[Laffy Kat]

24. Oh, it has changed so much.

You probably wouldn't recognize it now. It's still a cool place but not AS cool. It is expensive and I can't afford it either. I live northeast of Boulder--still in Boulder County--but in Lafayette. Lafayette is actually expensive now, too. I bought in the nick of time. The property taxes are killing me, though.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

31. We moved away in 1990, about six months before housing prices approximately

doubled. And Boulder had already had a reputation for being expensive.

[Laffy Kat]

32. Oh, the house prices and apartment prices are ridiculous.

Those prices set the standard for the little towns close by. My town was originally one of eleven coal-mining towns in the area and has remained a mostly working-class, diverse community. It's become so gentrified now many of the life-long residents are having a difficult time paying their property taxes. The same thing happened in Louisville, the next town over. I hate to see it.

[SpankMe]

19. Almost January in Boulder

...and no snow. Wild fires instead.

Climate change? What climate change?

[Laffy Kat]

33. Yep. It's crazy. nt

[beveeheart]

20. Laffy Kat, good to hear you're safe.

We've packed some things just in case, but hoping that the wind dies down completely.

[Laffy Kat]

25. Oh, thanks for checking in, bevee.

You're right to be prepared. I keep thinking the wind is dying down and then it picks back up. I guess anything can happen. You stay safe, too.

[Bristlecone]

21. Stay safe. Hopefully that snow forecast for tomorrow materializes.

And the winds stay down.

[Laffy Kat]

26. Hopefully is right.

We keep getting close calls. I can't remember it ever going this long without the white stuff.

[Rhiannon12866]

27. Everyone please stay safe in the Boulder area, I'd send you all the NY snow we've got if I could!

Or, even better, all the rain! My cousin is in Castle Rock, about an hour away.

[Solly Mack]

28. Oh, wow. Stay safe and keep us posted, please.

[Laffy Kat]

34. So far, so good on this end.

But 500-plus houses were lost in the next towns over, Louisville and Superior.

The fires happened so fast while most people were at work and unable to return to rescue their pets. My heart breaks for all of those dogs and cats that perished waiting for their humans.

[Ellipsis]

35. Pretty sure my friend lost his house...

...fortunately or unfortunately he's down in Florida for a traditional New Year's Vacation.


Last he heard the house was surrounded by fire.

[Laffy Kat]

36. That's awful. Does he live in Superior?

I think they got the worst of it.

[Ellipsis]

37. Louisville.

He was inundated with people asking about him... so I haven't inquired further. I just know the whole family is okay. His mother was in an independent living community which was evacuated as well. I am most concerned for her. She has alzheimer's. It's a strong family and his brother is days drive away. Things will work out.

it's probably better he's out of town considering all the people who have been displaced that will be competing for short term housing.