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Change of wind
For the majority of Coloradans, life is going on as normal

By Javid Djalili
June 25, 2002
The Iranian

It's funny how everyone thinks that Colorado is always snowy and cold (it's really a perfect four-seasons kind of state). Well, that particular illusion has been finally quashed by the shocking TV images of hundreds of thousands of burning acres of pristine forest just outside the modern metropolis of Denver.

The choking smoke in the air really got bad only a couple of times, when we couldn't see the mountains or the downtown skyscrapers. The wind blew ash all over the city, which fell like a light snow and covered everything.

The normally bustling city streets were empty, while people took cover in their homes and closed their windows. It looked like a ghost town, or as Colorado Governor Owens called it: "A nuclear winter".

One poor older lady died of an asthma attack. About 10,000 people were evacuated from their homes, and more than 100 houses were burnt to a crisp. And its not just here in Colorado anymore: California and Arizona have their own raging forest fires too.

When I flew from Los Angeles to Denver last week, the whole of the western part of the United States were covered in a brownish foggy haze from the smoke.

The authorities are saying that the fire may have been started by a love-sick lady who wanted to be seen as a hero, when she thought she could extinguish it quickly. What would be a fitting punishment for such a crime?

They're also saying that because of the deforestation and the removal of all the top-soil there is now a danger of flash-flooding when monsoon-style rains eventually come.

But let's take heart, its not all bad news.

The wind has changed, we had some light rain, and the forest fires are almost 50% contained, thanks to the heroic efforts of the volunteer firefighters and their support teams (food, shelter, logistics).

Colorado is a BIG place, and most of it is NOT on fire, contrary to what the TV pictures are portraying. For the majority of Coloradans, TV is the only place they're seeing the fires, and life is going on as normal.

And as we all know, when the winter snows return in a few months, we will have turned our minds to staying warm (with wood-log fireplaces?) and enjoying Colorado's famous "champagne-powder" skiing again!

It's almost time again for me to put on my studded-snow tires. It's funny how the circle continues ...
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