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Another post showed the heroics of the militarily minded, air-based firefighting personnel. Now come the ground troops from the Colorado Springs Fire Department. The video, shot Wednesday by department video specialist Steve Schopper, shows the restraint firefighters exercise in the face of approaching flames, and the strategy for letting the fire pass by, leaving the house intact. Pretty cool.

Black Forest Structure Protection from City of Colorado Springs on Vimeo.

The military, and more specifically the U.S. Northern Command public-affairs office, is taking video from a variety of mostly first-person viewpoints and releasing them copyright-free to the public. They're very, very cool, with viewpoints shot from the Chinook helicopters dropping water from their Bambi Buckets; USAFA firefighters cutting lines, and a variety of other efforts. See the lot below:

"USAFA Assists Fighting the Black Forest Fire":

"Bambi Bucket Drop":

"Flight Over Black Forest Fire":

"Chinook Flight Over Black Forest Fire":

"Fort Carson Chinook Operations for Black Forest Fire":

"Aerial Footage From Inside a Chinook Fighting Black Forest Fire":

"Fort Carson Chinooks Assist with Black Forest Fire":

"USAFA Firefighters assist with Black Forest Fire":

"Supports Firefighting Efforts In Black Forest Fire":

ABBA Eye Care is offering the following to those affected by the fire and in need of sight succor:

• Single vision or FT bifocals in CR39 from our budget selection at N/C

• Frame upgrades from our regular frame selection at 50% off of retail

• Extras such as progressives, poly, Trivex, or high index, scratch coats and A/R at 50% off

• 2 pair of trial contact lenses instead of glasses if this is their primary means of vision correction

• If they don’t have current exam info available, we’ll provide an exam at 25% off, a basic exam, and 25% off a CL fitting if needed

• Fire fighters and police officers to receive complimentary eye exams and CL fittings if necessary

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs is now open to those in need of a place to go. Evacuees should park in Lots 8 or 9.

Total, the American Red Cross has shelters at:

Black Forest Fire, Colorado Springs area
• Palmer Ridge High School, 19255 Monument Hill Rd., Monument (109 individuals registered as of noon today)
• Elbert County Fairgrounds, 95 Ute Ave., Kiowa (346 individuals registered as of noon today)
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs Recreation Center, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs (Opening at 3 p.m.)

Royal Gorge Fire, Cañon City area
• Evangelical Free Church, 3000 E. Main St., Cañon City. (2 individuals checked in as of noon today.)

Downtown florist Springs in Bloom, at 318B E. Colorado Ave., will be loading a delivery van with food donations today at 4 p.m., and again every afternoon as long as needed, and running them over to Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado. They're looking for food, snacks, sunscreen, Chap Stick and batteries, most to be used by first responders.

A post on Care and Share's Facebook page says the organization has received some 102,000 pounds of food by 11 this morning, roughly two days into the fire. Good job, Colorado Springs.

Like thousands of others, she has been pre-evacuated from her home, which is in Woodmoor. If the fire crosses Highway 83, her home could quickly be in the path of the flames. But even if that happens, Davies says, she'll be there for the annual Starlight Spectacular this weekend.

The moonlit bike ride is TOSC's biggest annual fundraiser, with over 1,200 riders already registered. It's a lighthearted cruise where participants often dress up in costume or string their bikes with colorful lights. So far, Davies says it appears the air quality will allow for the ride, and the emergency personnel needed say they will have no problem attending. If that changes, the ride could be cancelled — safety first — but Davies thinks that's unlikely.

“We’re going to do it," she says, "[But] of course like any organization that has something going on this weekend we’re a little on the fence.”

Davies says she decided to try to go forward with Starlight because she feels like taking part in a community-minded event is a lot better than "if we sit home and are sad."

“Talking together, grieving together, bicycling together — that’s a healthy thing to do,” she says.

Riders are encouraged to bring donations for Care and Share Food Bank to the ride.

The Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau just issued a press release reminding people of its up-to-date website that lists available hotel rooms in close to real time.

"There are rooms currently available in Colorado Springs and the surrounding region," reads the release. "Inventory on the booking engine updates automatically. The CVB continues to be a resource for local residents and travelers to the region on attractions, lodging and transportation information through their fire information page www.VisitCOS.com/fireinfo."

Though most of the Black Forest Fire has remained in El Paso County, it's begun to cross city lines. So, the City of Colorado Springs issued a press release notifying the following northern neighborhoods to either mandatorily evacuate their homes, or be ready to do so.

MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER ISSUED FOR AREA A-1: NORTHERN PORTION OF CITY VOLUNTARY EVACUATION ZONE

Colorado Springs, Colo.—City officials have issued a Mandatory Evacuation Order effective immediately for the following area due to the Black Forest Fire.

Map here: City_Mandatory_Evac_Zone_A-1.pdf

Mandatory Evacuation Area A-1: Northern Boundary: North Gate and Old North Gate Road - Southern Boundary: Flying Horse Club Drive (to include homes south of Flying Horse Club Drive on Barossa Valley Road and Veneto Way)/Vine Cliff Heights/Equinox Drive/Serenity Peak Drive - Eastern Boundary: Highway 83 - Western Boundary: Voyager Parkway

Voluntary Evacuation Area A: West to I-25 and all areas north of Old Ranch Road within the City limits of Colorado Springs not included in Mandatory Evacuation Area A-1.

Media Notice: Office of Emergency Management Director Bret Waters, Police Chief Pete Carey, and Interim Fire Chief Tommy Smith will hold a 2 p.m. press conference at Pikes Peak Community College Rampart Campus.

A Mandatory Evacuation means that you are in immediate danger. Load your family and pets into your vehicle, and GO NOW. Once you have left the evacuation zone, you will not be allowed to re-enter until the danger has passed.

The Colorado Springs Police Department will continue to patrol the mandatory and voluntary evacuation zones to provide security for residents’ homes while they are out of the area.

Be sure to take essential items—medicine, special foods, personal items, baby supplies, clothing, money, and valuable papers — but do not overload your vehicle. Families are encouraged to take only one vehicle to avoid congesting the evacuation routes. Secure your home before you leave. Be sure to check on any neighbors who may need assistance. Consider texting to communicate with family members instead of phone calls as cellular service may be interrupted due to high call volumes. Don’t text and drive.

Residents with no means of transportation or who are physically unable to evacuate on their own, should ask a neighbor to assist them or call the following number: (719) 444-7000.

Human Shelters:
Residents who cannot stay with family or friends outside the evacuation area, go to one of the shelters listed below:
• Palmer Ridge High School- 19255 Monument Hill Rd, Monument

Small Animal Shelters:
• Powers Pet Emergency- Powers and Stetson Hills — Offering small animal assistance, medical & kennel. Ph (719) 473-0482
• Falcon Animal Hospital- Phone (719) 495-1457, is now accepting dogs and cats. Address: 860 Swing Line Road.
• Palmer Ridge High School 19255 Monument Hill Road Monument, CO 80132*
• Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region 610 Abbot Lane Colorado Springs, CO 80905

*If you are NOT staying with your pets at the Palmer Ridge High School shelter, you must bring your animals to Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region at 610 Abbot Lane. The Palmer Ridge High School shelter is set up for owners staying with their pets only.

Do not allow pet to run loose. If residents cannot make arrangements for your large animals the following places may be able to provide assistance:

Large Animal Shelters:
• Elbert County Fairgrounds (95 Ute Avenue, Kiowa, CO. 303-718-3343).
• El Paso County Fairgrounds in Calhan is now accepting evacuated large animals.

“BE READY!” If you are not in the current evacuation or pre-evacuation areas there is currently no immediate danger to your home, family, or business, but the fire is growing and may be moving toward you as weather and wind conditions change. Now is the time to get ready. Refine your evacuation plans, and gather the things you’ll need if you must evacuate.

It is imperative that all citizens stay away from all evacuated areas. Please do not stop in these areas for any reason as it can endanger evacuees and emergency personnel.

The troubled area on Colorado Avenue west of 31st Street variously known as “No Man’s Land” or “The Avenue” has kicked off a media and public awareness campaign aimed at discouraging people from giving to panhandlers.

We wrote about the campaign in the news story “Keep the change” on April 17. The campaign has been put together through the cooperation of the Avenue Task Force, neighborhood groups, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Manitou Springs, and local businesses.

• Avenue Task Force
• A campaign poster

The Pikes Peak Community Foundation has announced that the barn-raising scheduled for this Saturday at Venetucci Farm has been postponed due to the Black Forest Fire. The farm will still be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., but all scheduled activities are on hold.

Instead, the PPCF will focus its energies on the new emergency relief fund created in the wake of the fire. And though similar to the one created last year for the Waldo Canyon Fire, the foundation says this year's version "has more flexibility to quickly respond to the community's needs."

Click here to learn more and/or to donate. "Contributions may be used to fund eligible costs for pressing needs such as emergency supplies and gas, as well as long-term restoration efforts," says a release from the foundation. "Fund disbursement will be overseen by a committee of local experts."

Last year, we brought you the tale of Bill Layton and other local restaurateurs banding together to feed firefighters, first responders and anyone else who needed it in the wake of the Waldo Canyon Fire.

And though the devastation of that event felt like it could never be repeated, the Black Forest Fire has now surpassed it as the most destructive wildfire in Colorado's history — and it's at zero-percent containment.

So, of course, Layton, Greg Howard at McCabe's Tavern and others are back at it again. Here's a sampling of Facebook posts: