While most of us have been in Omaha enjoying the sights and sounds of the US Olympic Trials, the Colorado Springs home of USA Swimming has been ravaged by wildfires that at the last official count has torn through over 15,000 acres in Colorado.
As the flames move from the countryside to the populated centers, 6 members of the USA Swimming staff has already been forced from their homes, including one lost in the flames. The fire has not yet directly hit the Olympic Training Center complex, but it is moving that way. This will leave a gloomy mood in Omaha, in a time when there should be celebration of four years of hard work.
US Paralympic Swim Team head coach Dave Denniston Tweeted this picture of the view outside of his apartment.
USA Swimming is setting up a link where people can go to get more information about how to help the victims of the wildfire, and our thoughts are with all of those at the USA Swimming and USOC base in the Springs. We will bump this post back to the top and add a link when we receive it.
Rick from ACC Recruits, who is based in Buena Vista 100 miles west of Colorado Springs, has offered to help if anybody needs a place to keep their animals in the short-term. Email him at Rick [at] ACCrecruits.com.
To clarify some of the details of your story: The fire is not moving towards the Training Center — it is currently moving northwest towards Woodland Park, which is a mountain community west of Colorado Springs. Six members of USA Swimming staff have homes in the mandatory evacuation zone. One of those six has lost his home.
It’s raining right now! What is truly amazing is that fact that no lives have been lost. Today on all accounts has been a good one in terms of controlling the fire and no more homes or buildings have been lost today. We have over a thousand firefighters on the ground including the HotShots team doing everything they can! Thanks for the support, swimswam, and keep up the great coverage of trials! It’s the best thing to keep my mind off the fires.
We are 100 miles west of the Springs near Buena Vista. If anyone and their pets need a place to stay they should contact us. [email protected]
Good on ya Rick!
This is one horrible fire!