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Destruction, Devastation and Hope
By Eliza Bicknell of Lotus Petal Yoga
It was around 10am on September 6th, 2010, Labor Day, that my husband, a volunteer firefighter for the Fourmile Canyon district got a page. He grabbed his fire gear, said it was a tone for a small brush fire, probably nothing, and he’d see us in town later. About a half an hour later my son and I headed to the grocery store and to the small Labor Day festival and chili cook off happening in town. At the festival as we ate our lunch we heard fire truck after fire truck headed up the canyon. We saw a huge plume of smoke rising above the foothills. The winds were blowing in every direction at that time and they were strong, 30 – 50 mph gusts. We decided to head home. When we reached the base of Boulder canyon we were told we could not return home. The fire was raging and apparently out of control. People were being evacuated from Fourmile canyon, the road on which we lived. Hundreds of firefighters gathered at the base of Boulder canyon waiting to get the all clear to go up and fight the fire. Everyone was being held back due to the high winds and unpredictable nature of the fire. Still optimistic that the fire would be put out shortly, my son and I spent the afternoon walking around town and visiting various friends. When evening came and I realized we would not be allowed back home, things were much worse than anyone knew or expected, we landed at a friends house in town whose husband was also a volunteer firefighter. At this point I didn’t know where the fire was but I was pretty sure it was going up hill and away from my house. Still, our dog and cat, and everything else we owned for that matter were still up at the house. Others congregated at this same friends house, others who had homes further up the canyon. Others who saw flames headed right towards their homes when they were rushed to evacuate and literally run for their lives. At that point the fire was estimated at 3,000 acres and totally out of control. The winds had settled down and all ground crews were hard at work. The fire had spread to the north and the west. At midnight my husband, off duty for a few hours, showed up, safe. He had time to sneak into our house and grab the dog and the cat as well as my scrap albums and some family photos. He relayed stories of homes burning to the ground before his eyes, many, tragically that he worked hard to save, burned as the winds changed direction, many that were fellow fire fighters homes who were working along side of him. The next morning at 6 am as my husband headed back up to the fire, the air was so thick with smoke you could hardly see or breathe. Friends to the north reported dinner plate sized pieces of ash falling. The fire had doubled in size and was over 7,200 acres. Friends were frantic not knowing whether their home was still standing or not. With calmer winds, air support could finally be utilized. By the evening the fire had been taken over by the federal government and their professional hot shot crews. The next day my husband would be relieved for a short while from the front lines. The fire was not fully contained until Friday, 5 days after it started. Finally we were allowed back home. Our home, lower down in the canyon, was spared as the fire headed up canyon and north. Many of my friends were not so lucky. Many people not only lost their homes but their businesses. In total, 160 structures were lost. The fire was the worst one in the history of the state of Colorado. Driving up the road now is a scene of mass destruction, dead trees, black ground, rubble where homes once stood and people trying to piece their lives back together. Throughout the fire and now that the fire is out, the community has shown outpouring of love and support for the people that are trying to rebuild their lives after the fire. Stores have opened that are all donations based and give free items to those in need, including furniture. Meals and food have been graciously donated. Classes, like the yoga classes I teach, have been done all donation based with funds going to the victims and the fire departments that also lost so much. A huge benefit concert is to be held within the next two weeks with top pop artists all who share a connection to the state of Colorado. Losing a home doesn’t just deprive one of possessions, I have discovered, it deprives one of connection, ground, pride, belonging, and much more. It is profoundly traumatic, in ways I could never have imagined. The outpouring of support by the community is not solving the challenges our friends face in rebuilding their lives, but it is a place where they can begin to re-ground and trust in the safety net of a generous community, it is a place to start. |
View of the fire from east of town
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A terrifying story of the ravages of Fire, expertly told.
That's the one good thing about devastation. It brings out the good in people.
Generally I am not unhappy to see nature striking back at relentless human encroachment, but it's scary when it happens to someone I know (even if only online and only fleetingly). My commiserations and I hope you weren't traumatized too badly by the experience. Your hubby is a hero.
I remember this being on the news. I live in an area in Canada that had a similar devastation. The community sure pulled together to help the victims but as you say, it was only a place to start for those who lost everything in the fires.
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