For the last few years, Colorado has been lacking in moisture. It is everywhere... the brown tint to the grass, the slow growth of trees, flowers and shrubs... It's the telltale signs of a drought. The bans on open fires in campgrounds and fireworks around July 4th are common anymore. When the news came of a wild fire spreading quickly and out of control, and that an illegal campfire probably set it, it was heartbreaking! There were already other fires burning in other areas of the state, but this one was closer to home than ever before. It was in our county and about 50 miles from us, but the smoke made it seem closer. It was so bad on one Sunday, that health officials asked people to stay inside. I did. I had to. I don't even have breathing problems and it would make me cough and cough. Even though it was a ways off, the news reported that it was moving up to a mile an hour jumping from treetop to treetop! It was scary, but I trusted the firefighters. I felt sorry for them. I respect them no matter what, but once again they were showing the country why they are heroes. The local news reported on all of the evacuations and such. The national news made it sound as if all of Colorado was burning down which has hurt our state dramatically. I sometimes wonder why the media feels the need to make things much worse than what it is... This is bad I agree, but our state is not completely on fire! In fact, my husband and I took the kids camping last week into the mountains, and that is the best place to be right now! The air was clear and free from smoke and ash, and the weather was gorgeous! One of the local stations reported last week that the amount of area that has burned was over 200 square miles! Amazing isn't it? Terrible too. The worst part about this entire thing, is that it wasn't an illegal campfire that set it, but a forest worker who was either trying to play a hero, or just angry with a letter. Whatever the reason, it was a bad blow to an already hurting state. It will be a fire I will always remember. I hope that everyone will realize that Colorado is still perfectly safe and beautiful and keep any plans they have to come visit here. Or make some plans to come if you don't have any!