Ultimately, the decision to fly or scrub was left with NCR Command and after discussions with a few, the decision was made and I tried to get the word out to everyone. Maybe it's a re-learning exercise - folks need to be checking the weather report and the web page and their emails and using common sense. On site reports from Dan Winter and Warren DeBelle have me convinced we made the right call, and that we avoided another incident that would for sure have cancelled Oktoberfest. Everyone needs to be doing the rain dance and bringing about a climatic change.

Re: Chili Blaster. SCORE puts on a great launch and our equipment will not be needed although we do need to do a maintainence party and get everything ready for Oktoberfest. Drop dead decision date for GO or NO GO on Oktoberfest will be upon us really soon and depending on the precipitation/moisture/wind factors etc - be prepared for an extended wait before NCR takes to the skies again at the North Site.

I enthusiastically support the call to cancel the launch - especially since there is another VERY bad fire west of Loveland this afternoon. While I'd have loved to have delivered orders and been vending goodies, it would be a moot point if we lost the launch site.

This was a good call, and if it doesn't rain before Oktoberfest, we have no choice but to cancel that as well.

We probably need to be more aggressive on plastering this on the web page... I know a couple folks who monitor the web page, but are not on the email list. They went out to the site (and then went home and subscribed to the email list :-O

We will know 48-72 hours before Oktoberfest if conditions have improved (or not). Mother Nature will make the call for us -

Yeah, JW, been thinking about you and wondering if you're safe. Due to Boulder and now Loveland, the decision was beyond wise. Hate to be responsible for burning someone's ranch (or more) to the ground, not to mention livestock. What was that about climate change? Be safe.

The NCR Command made the right decision! A model rocket caused a six acre fire in Arvada today... still burning.

The new fire is about 10-12 miles "as the rocket flies" from our home. It was *very* near Eric Krug's house... Eric is a past Prefect for the legacy club, Tripoli Rocky Mountains. It started about a mile up the hill from him and burned in the opposite direction.

An eye on the weather conditions for our area and common sense will tell us if we can schedule a launch for Ocktoberfest. I think we will know, when in reasonable and in a timely manner, if conditions are safe. Stupid is as stupid does, we are responsibile rocketeers and will make the correct choice. Just check your emails before you head out the door for launch site.. I did not, last time I did was Friday morning, just before noon.. My fault, but, I made the best of the Saturday and enjoyed getting away from the house. Had a very good lunch at Comachos in Wellington.
Blue Skies to all. It's very dry conditions out there!

or two than to lose our site.

Everyone's pucker factor is a bit high with the Four Mile Fire and the new one west of Loveland.

I think this was the right choice. I would have loved to launch, but am patient enough to wait until it's safe.

Come on rain! Let's all do the rain dance around October 1...

Today Larimer County issued a fire ban in effect until November 1st. Both sites are in Weld County, but I can imagine that something similar will come soon 🙁

Edward

I'm just over the hill and down a ways from the Reservoir Rd Fire (Near Carter Lake) - probably 6 miles as the crow flies. Certainly had the wife and I a tad nervous after the Four Mile Fire.

Good call Joe, but we do need to get firm about Oktoberfest. Will we or won't we have a fire ban?

Everyone pray for rain on the prairie.

Warren

❓ I must be a few crow feathers Southeast of Musselman.(West of Co4&23 LarimerCo.)We have lived out in this area for over 30yrs.We learned early on to adjust our life style, to prevent fire damage. We had a burn a few years back just west of us (Parrish Ranch area,straight west of CoRd4), It reminded us to make the necessary changes to our place to prevent range and rual fire damage.
Maybe the last two fires will remind new comers (and recent property owners) to the area, that they need to do the same with their properties.
Hopefully it's and eye opener to all.. 😯

All of Wyoming most of Nebraska is now 'Red Flagged'

I can't change the weather but I am doing the rain dance regularly. Boulder County is imposing a Fire Ban and I suspect other counties will follow suit. Admittedly, the whole state is rather beyond dry and tinder.

Eurythmy for rain!

For my part, I'm going to be away on VACATION from October 2-7... if O'Fest gets cancelled, I will stay out on the road until the 9th. As such, I selfishly hope the call is made more than the day before. Mother Nature will almost assuredly let us know. Looking at the cloudless sky and the forecast, I know that if we had a launch scheduled for this weekend we'd probably cancel it today or tomorrow.

Another factor with a launch like Oktoberfest is that many people come from a long ways away - I have friends coming from Iowa, and I'll bet Doug G will be coming up. As such, we probably need to make the call a bit ahead of time.

Stay tuned.

Today about 0.25" rain fell on the launch site according to radar storm total. Not enough to change the fuel moistures by itself, but a good start.
Chad