From the 8:30AM MDT information release: Thomas’ Great Basin Type 1 Incident Management Team took command of the fire at 6 p.m. last evening. The containment lines held over-night and spot fires near residences were controlled.

Quick Fire Facts:

• Date started: September 6, 2010 Cause: Human (under investigation)
• Location: 5 miles W of downtown Boulder, CO Size: 6,422 acres
• Containment: 30% Estimated Containment Date: September 13, 2010
• Number of Personnel: 953 (15 crews) Aircraft: 5 helicopters
• Equipment: 134 engines, 37 water tenders Retardant: (156,012 gallons) cumulative
• Cost to Date: $ 4,000,000 Injuries to Date: 3
• Structures Lost/Damaged: 172 (169 residences)

The Red Flag conditions are expected again this afternoon, but the major increase in available resources should make the fire easier to contain than yesterday. The winds are still coming from the west, which is pushing the fire towards the city.

Local media is reporting that the city of Boulder has been busy cleaning out fuel sources on the west side of the city, and urging residents to do the same on their property. They are asking people to be prepared to evacuate on minimal notice.

Position: 17.1N 34.9W [10 PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West-Northwest [285°] near 21 mph [33 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 50 mph [ 80 kph].
Wind Gusts: 65 mph [105 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 45 miles [ 75 km].
Minimum central pressure: 1000 mb ↓.

Currently about 725 miles [1170 km] West of the Cape Verde Islands.

The storm moved out of the wind shear and dry air and has picked up the steering current.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Cats…Who Knows?

Not gonna happen…

[Editor: Excise demonstrates why you haven’t seen the indoor cats – they are on strike. There is something about this camera they really don’t like. They started out merely closing their eyes, but now they turn away.

Friday Ark