I was looking out one of the bedroom windows Sunday afternoon, thinking how much I missed the Grandchildren (they had just left, driving away, going back to their lives in Craig) when I saw a HUGE plum of smoke break out to the north west of our place.

Just then then Misty called and said they could see a huge fire probably close to the Correctional Facility, on Sawmill Mesa road.   (Five miles away from us).

Not wanting to be in the fire fighters way, we stayed home.  The next afternoon we took a ride over to see the damage.  It was vast.  There were still firefighters mopping up hot spots…we even saw forest fire Hot Shot vehicles along with the local fire fighter trucks.

The fire was in the Colorado Escalate Wildlife Area.  This is the train bridge, all of us locals call it the Black Bridge.  

Later we learned that Cedaredge, Olathe, Delta, the Correctional Facility, and the Wildfire Hot Shots  were all fighting this HUGE fire.

The flames were being fanned by the 40 m.p.h. winds we were having and had up until last evening around 8 p.m.  The air is calm this morning.

No structures were damaged, thankfully!  As for the cause of the fire…no one knows yet.

Today we start water on the place.  The winds have left and a cold front has replaced it.  That water is going to be cold to be putting our hands into.  But no matter hot or cold the irrigation water must go on.

I leave you now to head up to the head gate with Boomer and Terry.  It’s going to be a very busy day.

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda