Black Forest fire transformed very quickly into catastrophe

First responder explained what she encountered early in Black Forest Fire

By Rob Carrigan, robcarrigan1@gmail.com

(This story was written early 2015 as fire officials and recovery workers finally had enough time to tell part of their stories regarding what they encountered in the aftermath of the fire.)

Palmer Lake Fire Chief (and Falcon Fire Department Fire Marshal) Margo Humes says she was one of the first to arrive at the scene of the Black Forest Fire, and the fast-moving fire, on a very hot and dry day, careened out control before fire personnel could stop it.
"The fire was still on the ground when we first arrived and everything available was sent in right away, but it was very fast moving."
She described how she entered a house where the garage was already in trouble and in the process of rescuing pets, and large animals, as she contacted owners by a number recovered from a note on the table inside.
"It was definitely human caused,"says Humes. "No lightning, no traffic, no one around."
Answering a questions about crowning, Humes described how the fire climbed ladder fuel into canopy and transformed into the fire storm of catastrophic proportions it became.

Photo info:

1. Palmer Lake Fire Chief (and Falcon Fire Department Fire Marshal) Margo Humes says she was one of the first to arrive, and explains what she encountered at the start of the Black Forest Fire.
2. A question about crowning was asked of Palmer Lake Fire Chief (and Falcon Fire Department Fire Marshal) Margo Humes on recent tour.
3. Fire marks the eastern edge of this road in Black Forest but left the western side undamaged as it ripped through the forest after starting near here.