The Spring Creek Wildfire

The Spring Creek Fire - Sheep and Little Sheep Mountains, Colorado    6x6    Oil on Gesso board

Last week on my way to New Mexico I wasn't sure what route I was going to take down there, both Highways 285 and 160 were closed due to wildfires. Fortunately 160 was reopened the afternoon before I left. This painting is a view looking west from near Walsenburg. The fire was human caused and has burned more than 108,000 acres with 132 homes destroyed and another 119 damaged. The area is north of La Veta Pass and about 15 miles southeast of the Great Sand Dunes National Park. The fire started June 27th and is now mostly contained thanks to the brave men and women battling the blaze and some much needed rain. Its one thing to watch on the nightly news, but a whole other thing to see the wildfires in person, if even from a safe distance. Thank You Firefighters!