Colorado fires worry families in Oklahoma
| Updated: 6/28/2012 8:58 am |
Published: 6/27/2012 8:27 pm
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Brian Jensen lives in Oklahoma, but this week his heart is with his brother Dustin. Dustin lives in Colorado Springs, CO; a place devastated by a raging wildfire. “Colorado Springs is gorgeous,” Jensen, who is the local Red Cross Senior Director of Disaster Services, says, “When (Dustin) said that the fire was basically at the Garden of the Gods, I knew exactly what was on fire.” The Waldo Canyon fire has already forced more than 30,000 people to leave their homes in the Colorado Springs area. Dustin has been told to be on standby to evacuate his home. Dustin, his wife, and his two children are ready to leave at a moment's notice. “This morning, when he contacted me and sent me a picture on Facebook, it was about 20 miles away and now, it’s about ten to 12 miles away. They're definitely getting concerned,” Brian said. With the Red Cross, Brian deals with disasters every day, but he says this situation is different from any he's ever experienced. “When it's somebody you love and care about, and care a lot about, and suddenly it's them, its like, wow, this is very real.” Now Dustin’s family will wait until he updates them. “I don't think scared is the right word, what he really is concerned,” Brian told FOX23 Wednesday. Brian's communicating with Dustin every hour. “He said when you go outside; it's almost difficult to breath because of the ash and the smoke that you can feel in the air. Right now, they're just hunkered down, waiting to find out what they're supposed to do.” Brian says until the last ember is extinguished, his mind and heart will directed toward the foothills of the scorched Rocky Mountains. The Colorado chapters of the Red Cross are accepting donations to aid in their wildfire relief efforts. To donate, click this link:
Colorado Red Cross.
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