July 2, 2012 – IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger is in the Colorado Springs region to survey the devastation caused by the worst wildfire in the state’s history. More than 1,500 fire fighters, including IAFF members, are on the ground in Colorado fighting 12 large wildfires. While all of the fires are serious, the most dangerous appears to be the Waldo Canyon Fire located west of Colorado Springs. Containment is reported at 55 percent.

Watch NBC’s Nightly News report on the Colorado wildfires, including video featuring Colorado Springs Local 5 member, Lieutenant Mike Smaldino.

“All of our Colorado Springs Local 5 members have been called in to work this fire,” says IAFF 9th District Vice President Randy Atkinson. Fire fighters saved homes caught in the middle of a ring of fire, and saved entire neighborhoods and homes when everything around them was burned to the ground.

Fire fighters from across the state and from other states have been called out as well.

On July 2, Schaitberger, with Colorado Springs Local 5 President Jeremy Kroto (in photo), traveled to the Mountain Shadows area to survey the wildfire.

Despite its proximity to the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, it is unlikely that the fire will reach the memorial. “The fire would have to travel 10-12 miles south and east to be any threat,” says Atkinson. “Because it would also have to travel through downtown Colorado Springs to get there, this scenario seems unlikely.”

The blaze started on June 23, and last week, Colorado Springs’ emergency management had called for the mandatory evacuations of 32,000 citizens, including the cadets and staff at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but officials believe a lightning strike smoldered for days and then ignited the fire.

REPOST (Courtesy of IAFF.org)