Colorado College on high alert as wildfire nears

Colorado College on high alert as wildfire nears

Sent exclusively for editing to The Denver Post

June 27th, 2012

The Waldo Canyon wildfire continues to rage as students at Colorado College breathe in the fumes of burning homes and trees.

“I can smell the smoke wherever I am on campus,” says senior summer class student Denali Gillespie “We are all just trying to stay indoors and away from the smoke as much as possible.”

Most students and faculty have remained on campus despite the college’s location in a pre-evacuation zone. “We are a 10 minute drive away from parts of the city that have been forced to evacuate,” said senior Nicole Kauffman.

In an email to parents and alumni, the president of the college Jill Tiefenthaler stated Wednesday that “some of [the college’s] faculty and staff have been displaced by the fire and the college has offered them housing and meals on campus.”

“Evacuees are staying at the president’s house, and many of our employees have offered their homes to CC families and their pets,” she wrote.

The college is on high alert and prepared for evacuation. “Bags are packed and many cars are full, ready to drive,” said senior Noah Gallo-Brown.

The college is just 3 miles from a mandatory evacuation zone.