The devastating Marshall fire destroys a home in the Boulder area on December 30, 2021.photo by Helen H. Richardson
A disastrous fire destroys over 1,000 homes in the Boulder county area, leaving many shocked and scared for what is to come.
On December 30, 2021, a fire sparked in Marshall, Colorado, just south of the city of Boulder. According to the Denver Post, the fire “might have started on a religious sect’s property along Eldorado Springs Drive”; however, the true cause of the fire is still unknown. The fire escalated into something much more dangerous due to the dryness and intense winds that day.
On the day of the fire, about 30,000 residents were forced to evacuate their homes as the fire quickly spread. Starting in Marshall and spreading to Superior and parts of Boulder, the blaze left over 1,000 homes completely burned down and many others with costly damage. Every resident who was evacuated has an individual experience with the fire; however, they all had one thing in common: many were in disbelief. Trish Imperato, a longtime resident of the Boulder area said, “In the beginning of our evacuation process, there was never a moment I thought we wouldn’t be able to get back into our home.” Although evacuating brought up feelings of fear in many communities, most Boulder inhabitants were skeptical about the fire as they hoped that evacuating was just a safety precaution. Imperato described her feelings as a mixture of “fear, not knowing what to do, worry, nauseous, anxious, and sadness.” This combination of feelings was felt across the city as many watched their home go up in flames.
Communities across the state have taken action to help those affected by the Marshall fire. There are currently many resources available for victims of the fire where people are able to get the essentials as well as connect with others going through similar experiences. While these recovery centers are very helpful for Boulder residents, they can also make for long days. Imperato commented on her experience with these centers and said, “We spend hours at the Disaster Recovery Center in Lafayette, making sure we sign up for everything we need to. Then, I leave worrying that I haven’t done everything I needed to do… it’s constant.” These recovery centers can create long days; however, the Boulder County website provides many great online resources for victims as well as information about the services these centers provide. The recovery centers help by supplying resources such as consultations, gift cards, food assistance, mental health services, financial planning, and more. They have also helped with temporary housing as many residents were left with nowhere to stay. In addition to the aid being provided from outside sources, the victims of the fire have also done a great job of connecting with others who were impacted.
After the fire, communities in Boulder are closer than ever before. Imperato described her community as “absolutely amazing [as they come] together with donations, support, money, gift cards, and assistance in pretty much everything and anything.” This fire has been called the most destructive fire in Colorado history as it has left many residents with nothing; nonetheless, communities are doing an amazing job of providing supplies and support for those in need.
