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‘Thank God There Was Nobody Here’: Stunned Colo. Residents Survey the Devastation Post-Evacuation

Stunned Homeowners Return to Colorado Following Wildfire Evacuation

(Photo: AP)

(The Blaze/AP) — Melted bowling balls in the front yard were among the strange sights that met C.J. Moore upon her return Sunday to her two-story home, now reduced to ashes by the worst wildfire in Colorado history.

“Which is just hysterical. You wouldn’t think bowling balls would melt,” she told the Associated Press by phone from the scene in her Mountain Shadows neighborhood.

Moore was one of many residents allowed temporary visits to the most devastated of the area’s neighborhoods. Almost 350 homes burned to the ground last week in the Waldo Canyon fire, one of many still raging across the West.

A line of cars a mile long queued up at a middle school checkpoint, where police checked the identification of returning residents and handed them water bottles.

While searching for her great-grandmother’s cast-iron skillets, Moore marveled at the juxtaposition of what burned and what hadn’t. She found stainless steel kitchenware, a vase lamp, a concrete frog.

“To find my mail in my mailbox, unscathed. It’s just unreal. Unreal,” she said. “Bird baths are fine. Some of the foliage is fine.”

Three neighbors’ homes were unscathed. Only concrete remained of other homes, including hers. Cars were burned to nothing but charred metal.

Stunned Homeowners Return to Colorado Following Wildfire Evacuation

(Photo: Getty Images)

“Good lord! I’ve never seen anything like this. And thank God there was nobody there. Thank God there were no people here. There would have been no been no hope.”

About 10,000 people remain evacuated, down from more than 30,000 at the peak of the Waldo Canyon fire, but authorities said Sunday morning they hoped to lift more evacuation orders later in the day.

The 26-square-mile fire was 45 percent contained as of Sunday morning. It was one of many burning across the West.

Rich Harvey, incident commander, said crews continue to make good progress.

“We’re cautiously optimistic,” he said Sunday morning. “We still remain focused on things that could go wrong.”

But it’s been unbelievably difficult for many who had to evacuate.  One woman actually filmed the scene around her as she was driving away, and it’s both stunning and heartbreaking.  Watch the clip below, via Gawker (warning: some language):

About 1,500 personnel were fighting the Waldo Canyon fire, and authorities said they were confident they had built good fire lines in many areas to stop flames from spreading.

Authorities are still trying to determine the cause of the fire that broke out on June 23, and which so far has cost $8.8 million to battle. Dangerous conditions had kept them from beginning their inquiry, but investigators were able to start their work on Saturday.

Two bodies were found in the ruins of one house, one of almost 350 destroyed in this city 60 miles south of Denver. The victims‘ names haven’t been released. Police Chief Pete Carey said Saturday afternoon the approximately 10 people who had been unaccounted for had now been located.

Police did not expect to discover other victims in the rubble.

Stunned Homeowners Return to Colorado Following Wildfire Evacuation

(Photo: Getty Images)

More than 150 National Guard soldiers and airmen helped Colorado Springs police staff roadblocks and patrol streets.

A “bear invasion” also confronted a few mountain enclaves west of Colorado Springs, partially because the scent of trash had enticed black bears, and because they were pushed out of their regular habitat by the fire.

“[The trash] been sitting there for, well, approximately a week now. So that’s become an attraction for the bears,” Sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Kramer explained.

State game officials were trying to shoo the bears out, he said, and dumpsters were stationed to help volunteers and returning homeowners throw away trash.

Stunned Homeowners Return to Colorado Following Wildfire Evacuation

(Photo: AP)

Among the fires elsewhere in the West:

- Utah: Fire commanders say Utah’s largest wildfire has consumed more than 150 square miles and shows no sign of burning itself out. Hundreds of firefighters are trying to hold the Clay Springs fire from advancing on the ranching towns of Scipio and Mills on the edge of Utah’s west desert. The fire has destroyed one summer home and threatens 75 others. The fire was 48 percent contained on Sunday.

- Montana: Authorities in eastern Montana ordered the evacuation of several communities Saturday as the Ash Creek Complex fires, which has burned more than 70 homes this week, consumed another 72 square miles. The blaze grew to 244 square miles overnight.

- Wyoming: A wind-driven wildfire in a sparsely populated area of southeastern Wyoming exploded from eight square miles to nearly 58 square miles in a single day, and an unknown number of structures have burned. About 200 structures were considered threatened.

- Idaho: A fast-moving 1,000-acre wildfire in eastern Idaho that destroyed 66 homes and 29 outbuildings was expected to be contained Saturday. Some 1,000 residents were evacuated; it was unclear when they would be allowed back.

- Colorado: The last evacuees from the High Park Fire in northern Colorado have been allowed to return home as crews fully contained the blaze. The 136-square-mile fire killed one resident and destroyed 259 houses, a state record until the fire near Colorado Springs destroyed 346 homes.

—

Associated Press writers Paul Foy in Salt Lake City, Keith Ridler in Boise, Idaho, and Dan Elliott in Denver contributed to this report.

Comments (34)

  • Rolandd
    Posted on July 3, 2012 at 7:32am

    A lot of people pay top dollar for the beautiful vistas and forget the down side of the land that your living on. If you build your house in a forested area you’d better understand you might be in a forest fire sooner or latter. You must understand the only semi safe home is an earthen home (underground) or concrete and even then you may not be completely safe from disaster.
    Remember the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. It will happen again no matter how hard you try to keep them from happening with regulations and codes. Long before man lived here in great numbers, mother nature had a recycle plan. Fire was the best way of clearing the liter and dead falls from the land so it could have a rebirth of new a plants. Mother nature will let man push the laws to a point, then she will remind us who has control and believe it or not, it’s not man.

    Report Post » Rolandd  
  • WatchingAmericaDie
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:01pm

    Several months ago the FBI warned of Muslim terrosists plotting to start fires during the hottest parts of summer. I’ll bet this is the work of those terrorists.

    Report Post »  
  • Bub47
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 12:18pm

    I feel your shock and awe, Colorado. In 2003 we went thru the Cedar Fire where we lost 2232 homes and then in 2007 the Witch Creek fire took 1041 homes in approximately the same area. Our home was not hit but I remember watching in 2007 the tornadoes of flame go by 1/2 mile from our house. I remember the carrion birds picking up the bar-b-que out of the burnt brush. I remember the smoke so thick you had to move slowly so as to not breath to hard. The smoke was orange-brown and so thick you couldn’t see more than 100 yards and it hung around for over a week. We had a friend who’s truck was heated so high that all she found was a puddle of metal on the ground when she returned home. You are all in our prayers.

    Report Post »  
  • tajloc
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:27am

    take care of your local landscaping (no fuel) Get all burnables downwind. Pay no attention to officials instead think. You are responsible. Have evac plan for entire fam… meeting place (althoug this is not really necessary it makes teenagers think and plan. Watch “The Patriot” again.
    Fuel and wind are the problems. They always say they have controlled it but really IT is just running out of fuel in the downwind area. Think

    Report Post »  
    • Bub47
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 12:25pm

      There is also a problem with cinders getting under the eves of roofs. The building codes have changed in my area to require new homes to be built in such a way that the cinders cannot enter the attics by this entry point so it is not always just defensable space, it is a lot of other things as well.

      Report Post »  
  • Tandem2011
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:05am

    Coloradans have to learn from this experience because, in all likelihood, it will happen again…as it happened to lesser degrees in years past. This was the terrifying tipping point. Local citizens have to be watchful, informed, trained and proactive. We live in an age of terrorism and morally-bankrupt opportunists. We must also keep and eye on astronomy and how solar activity effects our weather. By the same token, alarmist reactions (fear-mongering) are harmful because they create panic and confusion.

    Report Post » Tandem2011  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 11:23pm

    God, please let your mercy rain upon these poor people. Give them the strength they will need to go on with life.

    Report Post »  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 5:05am

      Frankly, my only question “IS”: do you think you learned anything?

      Sadly, I already know the answer: no, what do you mean?

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
  • RAN58
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 6:39pm

    Regarding the woman and the video she made. That‘s why our world shouldn’t be tied up in the things we own. Matthew 6:21. Things can be replaced. People can’t. Trust in things that are eternal. The sun will rise tomorrow. Have a good cry. Pull up your boot straps. And drive on.

    Report Post »  
    • Thatsitivehadenough
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:06pm

      That‘s all anyone who’s in that position can do, so it’s very good advice.

      Report Post » Thatsitivehadenough  
    • Tandem2011
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:10am

      “With fire we test gold, and with gold we test our servants [the faithful].” –Persian

      Report Post » Tandem2011  
  • holy ghostbuster
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 6:26pm

    I’m sure the victims with burned down homes and dead friends and relatives are thanking god. Maybe some are wondering why they were not spared tragedy, while others were, despite their praying.

    Report Post » holy ghostbuster  
    • chazmo
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 7:34pm

      This is all you can think of to say?… I feel bad for you man.. Truly do…

      Report Post » chazmo  
  • hauschild
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 6:14pm

    Wildfires in the West – whoda thunk it???

    Or, hurricanes on the East Coast and Gulf – really???

    Utter insanity 24-7 in this nation.

    Report Post »  
  • chazmo
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 6:12pm

    Wow talk about flashbacks… I grew up in San Bernardino, Calif at the base of the mountains… I’ve lived thru many fires.. 1980 Panorama Fire being the most devastating the wind that was unbelievable. Santa Ana’s were crazy… Horrible day. It’s pretty scary stuff, especially as a child. Prayers to all the families.

    Report Post » chazmo  
  • Cosmos102
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 6:10pm

    My prayers for all who are affected by these fires. It makes me tear up just looking at the video.

    Report Post » Cosmos102  
  • Attila_the_Hunney
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 6:01pm

    How did these fires start?

    Report Post »  
  • JACKTHETOAD
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 5:02pm

    Thank God there were no people there…hmmm… :)

    Report Post » JACKTHETOAD  
  • nueces
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 4:44pm

    I’ve seen quite a few pics of whole blocks of subdivisions burned to the ground and there is no forest or even much brush anywhere near the destroyed houses. Nor does it look like there ever was. This is what you get when you put a flammable roof on your house. Take heed.

    Report Post »  
    • dontbotherme
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 11:20pm

      nueces: You do not know about the building codes or the spread of wild fires.

      Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 4:13pm

    I cannot imagine how bad it has been for all of you affected by these fires whether firefighter or resident. I continue to pray for you all.

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 4:07pm

    Save the Insects, Fish, & Birds… led the Liberals to prevent Farmers from obtaining Water… and banned Chemical Sprays… where the Bark Beatle has eaten is way through Forests… so now any Fire speads alike Gasoline.

    Blame the Government!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • Rational Man
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 9:27pm

      They also don’t allow logging of dead trees. Turns the forest into a tinderbox.

      Report Post » Rational Man  
    • ThirtyEightWinks
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 12:31am

      In Rocky Mountain National Park they have been removing trees killed by the pine bark beetle. One campground, which once was nicely shady, had been made nearly completely barren. I agree that all too often environmentalists want to leave things altogether too “natural”, but some times sensible things are done. Even so, removing them all would not have removed all the fuel for these fires.

      Report Post »  
  • Exrepublisheep
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 3:28pm

    Wow.

    Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
  • Countrygirl1362
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 3:25pm

    Prayers for all affected by the fires and for the safety of those fighting the fires and the continued safety of those that have had to leave.

    Report Post »  
  • SilentReader
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 3:14pm

    The eerily glowing haze has been hanging over the mountains in Utah for days now. And the still heavy air is suffocating.

    Some people in the next town over from me had to sweep up the ash, which surprised me because I’m closer to the fire, though I didn’t have any ash at all.

    Today it is a bit cooler though.

    Report Post » SilentReader  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 2:49pm

    Prayers for Michelle Malkin, I believe she and her family live in Colorado Springs.
    I have friends that live there, too, but haven’t heard from them.
    TRON-thanks for the update.

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • TRONINTHEMORNING
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 3:39pm

      Yep, MIchelle lives here; she finally got to go home on Friday. Hope you hear from your friends as well!

      Report Post »  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on July 1, 2012 at 2:41pm

    I am in the Springs; I still see smoke coming from the northwest and our incredible firefighters are working tirelessly. I know how fortunate I am as I live in the foothills and could see the flames all along the range of mountains; all week. As a radio host, I have been very busy with updates, passing contact info and hearing from those affected. We have all been affected and we have learned much. My old high school has been an evacuation area and it seems that indeed; many folks have finally gone home. And those of you in the Springs; don’t forget about the free concert at World Arena with Michael Martin Murphy and others; this being on 7/4. Those who wish to help out, go to http://www.redcross.org.

    Report Post »  

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