Watching the 7,000-acre fire burning west of Boulder reminds me that every area has its share of heartbreaking natural disasters. We live in a dry state where fire is a destructive force we fear every year. Seen from my home to the east, the plume of smoke from the Four Mile fire is boiling near the flames as it rises to spread across the sky.
Passing overhead, a fine ash settles down, coating my home and land. The question callers are asking is: Will this ash harm the plants?
“This late in the season – September 7 – a lot of the trees and shrubs are starting to be ready to shed those leaves,” says Dr. Jim Klett, Professor of Horticulture at Colorado State University, “they’re prepared for winter and a little ash won’t harm them. They’ve already set buds for next year.”
Showy fall color might be hurt by an ash coating, Klett said, by encrusting the leaves with gunk that diminishes the intensity of color. But unless the ash is thick enough to smother the branches and buds, the plants will be fine. Should that happen, a heavy rain will be enough to wash off the plants, or winds will move it off of the tree.
Of course, this advice is for those out of harm’s way. Closer to the blaze, landscapes could get singed. “If it’s near the fire and the ash is warm, yes, it can burn small holes in the leaves,” said Klett, but even then the leaves can take a bit of damage.
There’s little to be done except wait for the fire crews to contain the blaze, and hope for rain.
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Is everyone doing OK? I saw it’s moving on Boulder
Hi Lesley, I guess the answer to your question is: it depends. This is a destructive fire, in terms of houses lost – 169 – although the acreage is much lower than the Hayman fire. Because Don works in the post office where the evacuated people are picking up mail, his words last night about tore my heart – he says the people are shattered. They’re losing everything.
Right now we got lucky, the winds didn’t push it into Boulder as was feared. It’s nowhere near contained, but the crews are working hard to put it out. At my office on the fairgrounds the outpouring of donations to care for displaced animals is good to see, and there’s enough hay to keep the beasties fed. The donkey seems talkative – it’s braying it’s head off daily. Not to be outdone, the roosters are chorusing right back.
Thank you for asking, Les. It’s nice to know others far away are keeping us in their thoughts.