One year later: stories of the Marshall Fire
Friday, Dec. 30 marks one year since the most destructive wildfire in Colorado's history. In the afternoon of Dec. 30, 2021, a grass fire sparked in Boulder County that is still under investigation. Fueled by hurricane-strength winds, this fire went from a grass fire to a dangerous suburban wildfire in just a matter of hours. Forcing sudden evacuations, the Marshall Fire killed two people and destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses in Louisville, Superior and unincorporated Boulder County.
“As we look back on the one-year since the horrific Marshall Fire, we remember a painful day of destruction and loss for our community. It has been a long and hard recovery, and there is still more left to do, but each day I hope we get closer and closer to rebuilding some of what was lost," said Colorado Gov. Jared Polis in a statement released this week.
Following the weeks and months after the fire, the families who lost their homes looked for resources, support and a way to move forward. Lawmakers from city councilors to Colorado legislators to President Joe Biden visited Boulder County in the last year, offering support and promises to learn from this destructive lesson from mother nature.
In the past year, the Colorado legislature passed several bills to expand natural disaster mitigation and preparedness. Recently published CU Boulder research also found more than 1,000 pets died in the Marshall Fire, most trapped inside their homes. This research contributes to the message to all Coloradans to have a disaster plan in place as climate change puts the state in increasing risk for more wildfires.
As we look back one year after the tragedy, here are some of the lives impacted by the fire Rocky Mountain PBS has featured in the past year.
'111 years of history - lost.' The historic home in Superior that burnt to the ground
The house at 101 Coal Creek Drive had a history almost as long as Superior itself. It was built during the same time the Titanic was being built, and stood tall and proud for the next 111 years.
Sadly, the house and the physical reminders of its history were consumed by the Marshall Fire. Robin, the home’s property manager, shows us the remnants of the home and the impact she feels now that it’s gone.
The story behind the haunting image taken from a hospital window
They say a picture says 1,000 words, and this one is no exception. Weny Cardona, operating nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital managed to take a photo that has imprinted in our minds ever since. In the photo, nurses look on helplessly from the hospital window as the Marshall fire blazes in the distance.
Cardona gives Rocky Mountian PBS a behind the scenes look and shares what was going through her mind as she tried to focus on saving lives while knowing her town was burning nearby.
How to prepare for a fire
It’s important to learn from tragedies like the Marshall Fire so we can better prepare for the future.
Like many other Colorado fires, the Marshall Fire was a deadly combination of flames, extremely high winds, and dry landscapes.
Here’s what to do if you live in an area prone to these conditions from the valuable perspectives of climate experts.
Healing through helping
Lance Ferguson knows the impact of a fire all too well. In 2020, he and his family lost everything, including their pet, to flames.
Despite being out on the Western Slope, once Ferguson heard about the Marshall Fire, he leapt into action to help ease the pain for others - a process he says helped him heal from his own tragedy.
Undocumented and mixed-status families faced various barriers to accessing essential resources
During a crisis, it can be tough to get the resources needed in a timely manner. And for undocumented residents, there’s a risk of not receiving aide at all.
Advocates like Rocio Nuñez worked tirelessly to help families navigate how to get urgent necessities like housing and food met after losing everything they had.
The impact of climate change
Besides high winds and dry conditions, what caused the Marshall Fire, and why did it occur outside of Colorado’s typical ‘wildfire season’?
Fire expert and director of Earth Lab Jennifer Balch explains the often overlooked factors that led up to the burn, such as population rates and climate change.
Rebuilding after the fire looks different for everyone
6 months after the fire, victims were finally able to take a breathe and begin planning for the future.
In this award-winning episode of Colorado Voices, Rocky Mountain PBS followed some of the families impacted by the Marshall Fire on their journey to rebuilding their homes, and lives.
The 'equity map' created to help ensure more families receive the support they need
Colorado’s response to climate change disasters can leave some people overlooked.
While the Marshall fire destroyed many homes that became the focus of support services, others who were impacted by the wind event were left on the wayside.
Mobile homes lost vital parts, power outages devastated families, and unaddressed language barriers prevented many from receiving necessities.
In order to address this, Resilient Analytics created an ‘equity map’ to better ensure everyone who needs services receive them.
A growing interest in Passive Homes
Sometimes, tragedy leads to innovation.
Seth Riseman lost his home to the Marshall Fire, and decide to look into homes with more energy efficiency and fire resistance. His search led him to a tour of Colorado’s first multi-family Passive Home.
A fresh start abroad
For some families, the painful memories of the Marshall Fire were too much for them to stay. This family decided to rebuild a house, but not one they will call home.
Instead, they plan to rent out the property and start fresh in a new country.
Elle Naef is a digital media producer at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach her at ellenaef@rmpbs.org.
Pet saved from the fire, knowing many were lost
Tracy Granucci and her husband Jason had just landed in Cabo San Lucas to enjoy a vacation with family on Dec. 30, 2021. Back at their home in Superior, Colorado, they had arranged for a cat sitter to come every day to look after their 16-year-old cat, Peanut. Then the Marshall Fire sparked, prompting evacuations and road blockages not allowing family or the cat sitter to get to the home and Peanut.
Through nothing short of a miracle, their cat was saved despite the flames burning the homes next door to theirs.