This is a song written by a local man on July 5, 2012. There are at least 2 pictures of my street in the video and the pictures are touching. Some really moving ones of the evacuation and just how scary it was as the Front Range was lit up on fire...
This is a 5-day time lapse... a long video, but VERY interesting to watch. Skip to 8:00 in for the late afternoon of Tuesday June 26, this was just after the evacuation. At 8:30, the sun goes down and the front range is lit up entirely... that was the ridge of my neighborhood. It is amazing to me to see this and know our home made it... unbelievable.
This one brings tears to my eyes...
At 6:00 into the video, they show Ashton Place and Charring Court. Charring court is right behind our house. As you look at the home burning directly in front of the camera, those are the homes that were directly behind our house. Seeing this video makes me even more convinced that our house still standing is nothing short of a miracle!
I realize our updates are much less frequent - I think we are doing our best to get back to as much of a routine as possible.
To cover the basic update:
As of 8pm last night (July 10) the Waldo Canyon Fire was declared as officially 100% contained!
This is SUCH good news! The fire isn't completely out, but that means they have the perimeter completely under control.
As far as our home on Courtney Drive. Mom and Patrick were out here over the weekend to meet with the insurance adjuster and figure out what needed to be done and what the next steps were. I have to say I don't think I have ever been so impressed by an insurance company as I am with USAA. They are really stepping up and taking care of my parent's home as well as me and Sarah during the displacement.
Some things for the home: All the insulation in the roof/attic will be replaced. The inside of the home will be professionally cleaned and vacuumed. The carpets in all the upstairs bedrooms will be replaced (due to smoke smell). All the blinds (which were fabric) will be replaced. The basement carpets will all be cleaned. The backyard will be re-landscaped and re-fenced.
Some of my expenses associated with the displacement will be taken care of which is a huge relief.
These things will all need to be taken care of before Sarah and I can move back into the house. Brandon has been so gracious to us letting us stay with him as long as we need to. It is becoming a little cramped and stressful... living out of our suitcases with clothing and shoes and our belongings constantly scattered in a one-bedroom apartment. I have to say we really can't complain, but the sooner we can move back the better.
I'll be working to clean and organize the apartment this evening as Brandon is returning home for the weekend and once again it will be 3 folks plus a pooch for 3 days in the little 650 sq ft apt.
I'm hoping I get called in to work this weekend for USAFA Rafting. I would LOVE to take Sarah out on my commercial boat for the day.
Sarah will get to see her brother in Boulder tomorrow - which I know she is so excited about! He is passing through on a trip with some friends. Although the visit will be short, I know she is going to get so much joy out of seeing him. :)
I have been working on myself lately. Trying to gain some sense of routine back along with self-esteem. I started going to cross-fit with Sarah during the week (it's kicking my butt - in a good way of course) and hot yoga in the evenings. I'm quickly starting to notice results and I bought my first pair of shorts in 2 years yesterday! These plus guiding rafts on the weekends is making for some very nice arms!
Other than that, not much to report. We are spending time together, growing as friends, going through some tough things and some awesome things, and making new friends. We are both so blessed!
Thanks to everyone for keeping us in your prayers! We love you all!
Well, I got a lot of positive feedback on our "Wine Night Video Bilingual Update." I'm glad so many enjoyed it. I watched it the next day after posting it and I was so close to taking it down out of embarrassment over my rambling, but then I thought, "Ehhh whatever - I'm goofy, you either love it or you don't..."
So, now that I've had a few days off from writing I figured it was time to get back on the keyboard again. :)
*Side Note: If you are any of Sarah's friends/family - please give her a good amount of crap about not contributing - she has had a "draft" sitting on the dashboard for over a week...thanks! :) *
I was able to visit the home again on Thursday between the hours of 9 and 4. Since I have already taken a fair amount of time off of work through this whole ordeal, I only went over for a little while on my lunch break to get some things together. This time Sarah (and her friend Matt who is in town visiting) came with. This is the first time Sarah has been back into the evacuation area since we were evacuated last Tuesday.
Her reaction was pretty much what I had anticipated. Jaw dropped open and looking around in reverence, shock, and disbelief.
It is one thing to see the pictures and videos I was able to capture on my phone... it's a whole different story to see it in real life. It is unreal to see how blessed we truly were that our home was spared in this tragedy, but even harder to stomach was watching our neighbors sort through the ashes of their homes to find what bits and pieces of their life might still be salvageable.
Please, remember in your prayers the families in Colorado Springs that lost their homes. They had very little time to get things together and evacuate, so I can only assume the loss they must be feeling aside from just their home.
So, changing the subject for just a moment here: an update on the Waldo Canyon Fire
95% contained!!!
(I'd like to imagine here for a second the roaring sound of the applause from each person reading this...)
The efforts of our Colorado Firefighters and the firefighters that have joined in from other states to help is so greatly appreciated - I wish I could give each one of you (I think something like 1200 firefighters???) a big kiss! God bless you all!
With that, I'm not sure what the next step will be for Sarah and I. My mom and Patrick are coming out this weekend to assess the home, meet with an adjuster, and begin to take care of the tasks that need to be taken care of for the home to be lived in again. This process could be days, weeks, or maybe even months.
Although the home is in tact, the hazards are far from gone.
The utilities in the neighborhood are still being checked and worked on: gas, electricity, water, etc.
There is a TON of ash and debris ALL over the place.
The latest I've heard on the news is that because the fire burned so aggressive and hot, it fused the soil together - kind of like glass. So the potential for flash flooding is very high in the Mountain Shadows neighborhood. I've also heard of potential hazard from the chemicals that may have been released in the soil due to the high heat of the fire. So, I'm just not certain at this point what the next step is.
I want to end this point by saying thanks again to everyone. The love and support we have seen through this has been the greatest beauty to come out of this event. I can't feel down, or sorry for myself when I am so richly blessed. I love you all!
WOW! The generosity shown by others to Sarah and myself has been overwhelming! Friday, I was blessed with a gift certificate from a co-worker to help in any items we may need while we are displaced. Yesterday, I was sitting at my desk and 3 lovely ladies walked up with beautiful smiles and were bearing gifts of sheets, a mattress cover, and a beautiful pillow (they said reminded them of me - so sweet!). Today when I arrived at work, there was a box on my desk. This is not unusual as we get various investment kits and marketing materials sent to us all the time. It was different though... this time I recognized the name on the return address - ERICHO! One of our best buds Eric, who lives back in MD, had put together an incredibly thoughtful, witty, and wonderful care package and sent it to us. Complete with all necessary essentials. He did a great job outlining the contents of the package so I have included a pictures of the included contents of the package. Ericho, you are AWESOME!!!
When I entered back into reality (and phone reception) I found out a few things:
First, Hwy 24 was open. This is a major road from Colorado Springs toward the high country, west. This highway had been closed for over a week as the Waldo Canyon Fire was just to the north of it. Although the fire is still burning, this is a VERY good sign of success.
Secondly, I learned that the containment of the fire had increased to 55%. This is also a HUGE victory for our firefighters. They are working so hard around the clock to keep the fire at bay. It has not grown in the last 48 hours - the only acreage added to the affected area is from areas already within the burn zone. This is such good news to return to.
Finally, I received word that for a brief time on Sunday, residents of the Mountain Shadows area there were still under mandatory evacuation were given permission to return for a short time (having to be out of the area by 6 pm on Sunday.)
So, on our way back into town, my friend Ted (Who was driving) agreed to accompany me back to the house to see the condition. As I said before, it was one of two homes left standing on our street, but the condition of the home was entirely unknown. I expected a good amount of smoke and water damage, ash, burns, etc.
What I found upon returning to the home (after a very secure checkpoint entry) was nothing short of miraculous!
The home on the outside showed no signs of visible damage. Debris, embers, trees, and all sorts of things littered the yard, but the home was not only in tact but it looked pristine! I checked the outside first. Fence posts, landscaping, and trees were burnt to nothing. However, the home looked as if a bubble of protection had formed around it. It was clear that the firefighters that were on the scene did absolutely everything within their power to save the home. Trees and fencing were cut down that were near the house. Wicker patio furniture was chucked from near the home and lying in the yard. It was completely unreal to see how close things had burned to the home (a matter in some spots of only a few feet away).
Aspen trees that were left standing were charred on one side and green on the other. The devastation was overwhelming. Behind, beside, and across from our home I saw my neighbors back to visit the charred remains of their homes and lives and the emotions were unbearable. I felt a twinge of guilt as I inspected the yard around my in-tact and still-standing home.
I gathered myself and went to inspect the inside. Surely I would be overwhelmed by the smell of smoke and debris inside from the windows we had forgotten to close before leaving in a hurry.
I nearly collapsed in relief as I opened the front door. It was the most beautiful house I've ever seen - because it was my home and it was exactly how I had left it. Things were out where I had rummaged through to pack what seemed necessary. The couches, TV, kitchen counters... just there as I had left them, as if the house was saying, "OK, time to come home and clean now... just another day..."
I walked from room to room in disbelief as every room was clean, in tact and just as we had left them. No ash, no debris, and surprisingly enough, no smell of smoke. The only visible sign I was able to find that a fire had occurred anywhere near us was a bit of ash in the window sills of the windows we had left open by mistake. I can only assume the firefighters working so hard around our home did everything they could to save it - including shutting the open windows.
I grabbed a few items I had thought about over the last week for both Sarah and I and locked up the house before leaving. It was a strange feeling to leave the neighborhood and driving by the dozens of homes burnt to the ground knowing that it was only a matter of time before I would be able to return to my home and my life.
I pray for those families that have lost their homes. Although insurance the the goodwill of the community will surely find them in homes again, I know that for many it is a lifetime of memories lost. It will be a grieving process for each one of those people, and I can only pray that through this time they find comfort and solace in the peace of knowing they aren't alone, and they won't be through the entire process of rebuilding their lives.
Sarah and I have already decided that once things settle a bit, we are going to see where we can get involved in the effort of those who have lost their homes to help. i'm not sure what that need looks like yet - but when we do, I'll be sure to let you know!
I've included some photos and videos below of my short visit to the Mountain Shadows neighborhood.
Love,
MJ
A home just a few doors up from ours...
This neighbor was just to the east of our home. They were the first ones to welcome me to the neighborhood and offer to let them know if there was ever anything I needed.
My fish Laredo, who I was sure went up in flames as I thought the rest of the house had. In the chaos of leaving, I'm ashamed to admit I forgot to grab him. The little guy made it! he was very hungry, so I was sure to feed him while I was there - but he made it!
This is the house across the street from us. The only thing left visible is the house number. This neighbor was watering his flowers when I was working to pack up the car during the "pre-evacuation" status. He wasn't aware it had been issued at the time. I told him about and said, "It's just a pre-evac notice, but you might want to get a few things packed up." Crazy now to see his house in ashes...
This is the view looking down our street to the eastern end of Courtney Drive - I took this just a few doors up. Our home is on the left with the red truck (Ted's) parked in front.
Another neighbor's devastated home.
Neighbors returning to their property during the brief allowance back into the mandatory evacuation zone.
Backyard. Fence and landscaping gone and charred.
More of the backyard.
Visible evidence in our yard of how close the fire came - this is a planter only a few feet from the home...
As we found it - patio furniture thrown from the vicinity of the home along with downed trees and fencing.
View of the range from the backyard. All of the Ranch is charred and gone.
The west side of the house. The pine tree was removed. Notice the charred fence post and the proximity to the house. Amazing that anything was burning that close and the home remained spotless.
