Colorado Fires and APEX Gun Parts

I hope this is the correct place to post this..

As many of you already know APEX Gun Parts is currently located in Palmer Lake, Colorado.
That location is due north of the US Air Force Academy and west of highway I-25.
Well today most everyone who works at APEX (Jeff included) had to take off for a bit and prepare to evacuate their homes.
All the effected people loaded their vehicles and came back to the shop!
No one had to come back, they wanted to.
Here is the notice we received::

http://www.ci.palmer-lake.co.us/

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

June 27, 2012

From: Monument Tri-Lakes Fire Protection District
Donald Wescott Fire Protection District
Monument Police Department
Palmer Lake Police Department

As previously released by the Incident Command Center in Colorado Springs, the geographic areas located north of the Air Force Academy, west of I-25, and south of County Line Rd are under a pre-evacuation notice.

Residents should begin preparations in case of a mandatory evacuation. Your preparations should include gathering important paperwork, prescriptions, insurance policy information, personal valuables, clothing, pets, etc.

As witnessed yesterday, wildland fires are unpredictable and can become very intense in a matter of minutes. We encourage you to take the time necessary to prepare your personal items and get everything in order. A little preparation will go a long way!

Since this situation is subject to change based upon numerous variables, it is recommended to keep abreast of the situation by checking with the local news stations or through
www.inciweb.org
for the most current information.

Your local law enforcement agencies and fire departments are prepared and ready to fight this fire. You can help by being prepared and ready to evacuate if necessary.

AS always taking care of our customer orders is the first priority.
The folks not included in the above order doubled their efforts today so our people who live in the effected area could make their preparations.
We at APEX will man the phones and ship out orders until such time as we are ordered to evacuate.
We are hoping that all the brave firefighters and the aircrews of the water bombers can stop this blaze on the Air Force Academy grounds. That is where they are making a stand.

You can listen to their efforts live thru your computer media player here::
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/a...n=wp&feedId=34

So far no one here at APEX has lost a home, and our hearts go out to all the residents of Colorado Springs who have been evacuated or have lost their home to this fire.

I will post updates here when changes happen.
I am doing this from my home computer that is well away from the fire, I just have a cloud of smoke hanging over this part of Colorado Springs.
We have each done what we can at home and at APEX to be ready for what the next few days will bring.
It is business as usual and we will be manning the phones and packing your orders.
My thanks to everyone, we appreciate your business, our customers are the best!

Richard@apexgunparts.com

Richard if we gun owners can do anything to help let us know!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flan7211

Richard if we gun owners can do anything to help let us know!

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I appreciate the offer!
Today we did everything we could to prepare for the worst.
We are all hoping that Monument & Palmer Lake don't have to face this raging blaze.
I cannot even imagine the US Air Force Academy burning.
Listening to EMS tonight sounds like the fire fighters are managing better than last night.

Richard

You guys are awesome. I always look forward to talking to you at Tanner.

You guys are a class act, I hope everything comes out ok, I'll help you move parts kits if needed hahahahahaha anyway prayers with your guys as well as all the other affected

Hopefully it stays away from you guys. Couldn't imagine all those gun parts burning up.

The 8AM status briefing just ended.
All the Officials are hopeful for today because the weather is less of a problem.
There are no changes to the evacuation and pre-evacuation orders.
The other local military bases have added assets to the crews working on the Air Force Academy.
Right now the fire is 5% contained, I hope they can gain more containment today.

Richard

Best of luck to you guys.

Keep your powder dry Rich,(and cool)
Take care.

Be safe, and good luck with this... we just got a little rain up here in Evergreen, it stopped but it looks like we're not finished. I'll put in a word with the guy upstairs and see if he can just go ahead and send you guys a lot! [Beer]

I live over in Woodmoor, so if you need any help give me a call. You can PM ne for my number.

Thanks for all the kind words and offers of help.
We had a lot of people call the office today and check in on us.
The people that are APEX do appreciate all the concern and prayers from everyone.

I just watched the 4 PM briefing about the fire.
The good news is it is now 10% contained.
They hope the daily reports will be positive and bring that number up.
However, here are the other numbers:
18,500 acres burned
32,000 people evacuated
346 homes lost on the 36 streets they have checked so far.
There are some people unaccounted for.
No changes to the evacuation and pre-evacuation zones.
The Police have made an arrest for a burglary in an evacuated zone.
And, they still do not know what was the cause/start of this fire.
I am hoping this is a good night for the fire fighting efforts and they can knock this blaze back.

Richard

More bad news has been released.
They have a confirmed death of a homeowner, and the second occupant from that address is unaccounted for. Our condolences go out to that family for thier terrible loss.

They have containment at 15% now, 16,750 acres have burned.
Last night and this morning they have lifted evacuation orders on the US Air Force Academy housing and some of the residential areas just west of I-25.
They now have 1,118 Fire Fighters, 8 helicopters, 11 bulldozers, 76 fire engines and up to 8 aircraft engaged fighting this fire.
They have announced that today the USAF will bring in more MAAF equipped aircraft.
Aerial support will be utilized today to aid firefighters.
To date 14,154 gallons of retardant and 384,205 gallons of water have been dropped on the Waldo Canyon Fire.

APEX is still open for business!
We are still in a pre-evacuation order area.
Bulldozers will be used to construct contingency lines along Mount Herman Road.
That is to our south and will be a big help in stemming the northern progress of this fire.

It is our hope that no more people loose their lives and homes in this fire.

That is what I know this morning.

Richard

This afternoon they announced that the body of second occupant was located in that house.

The fire is now 25% contained.
The reports now state 17,073 acres have burned so far.
The fire has partly surrounded one of the cities main water supply reservoirs.
The utilities spokesman said this may effect the taste and smell of the water.
The pre-evacuation notice has been lifted in Douglas County.

Here is the office word from EL Paso County & the city of Palmer Lake::

PRE EVACUATION NOTICE ONLY
THIS IS THE EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE.
TODAY IS JUNE 29th at 4 20 p m.
THIS IS A PRE EVACUATION NOTIFICATION FOR THE AREA NORTH OF THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY, TO THE DOUGLAS-ELPASO COUNTY LINE, WEST OF I TWENTY FIVE.
BE PREPARED TO EVACUATE.
THE SHELTER AREA IS LEWIS PALMER HIGH SCHOOL.
If you have questions, PLEASE CONTACT 7 1 9 9 5 5 0 7 4 2.
THE PHONE CALLS YOU ARE RECEIVING IS JUST A REMINDER THAT WE ARE STILL UNDER THE PRE-EVACUATION NOTIFICATION.

So at APEX the conditions remain the same for all the people who live here.
I hope the situation continues to improve thru the weekend and the pre-evacuation order is lifted before we open on Monday.

There are stll a great many residents in mandatory evacuation zones that are awaiting the word that they can return to their homes. We all hope that they all can return home soon.

Richard

Richard on behalf of the board, thanks for the updates.

Prayers your way

The situation is much improved..
The fire is now 45% contained.
Highway 24 is now open to Woodland Park.
Many residents (but not all) have been allowed to return to their homes as the evacuation orders get lifted.

The pre-evacuation order has been lifted on Monument & Palmer Lake!
Looks like this coming week APEX will be running sales and planning the move and our people will be less worried about the fire.

Our 1534 fire fighters are still working hard to get the fire contained during these hot, dry days.

Richard