INFERNO!

INFERNO! And the Miracles of the Colorado Marshall Fire

The December 30, 2021, Marshall Fire south of Boulder will be remembered as the most destructive inferno in Colorado history and among the top fifteen worst fires in the western United States. In just over four hours, the fire, fueled by high velocity Chinook winds, burned 6,026 acres, consumed 1,084 structures, and caused over $2 billion in damage. The fire caught everyone by surprise. No one thought a fire could create so much destruction in so short a time. Few residents considered suburban Superior and Louisville at risk to wildfire. During Christmas vacation with many firefighters and police away, with Covid rampant, firefighters and law enforcement officers from around Colorado flocked to Boulder County to stop the raging firestorm (with help from mother nature). Miraculously, only two people were killed and eight injured. Though much of the acreage burned was pasture and grassland, only nine cows, two horses and two goats were confirmed lost. Hundreds of others survived on their own or were rescued through heroic efforts of farmers and ranchers from throughout the Colorado front range.

Over thirty-seven thousand five-hundred frightened residents, shoppers and workers evacuated safely from the spreading flames. Though everyone’s story is unique, those affected by the fire shared common experiences. They all fled with little warning from the encroaching flames. They all located temporary shelter. They all decided whether to rebuild or start over someplace new. Many events occurred during and after the fire that can only be described as miracles. Interviews, local history and pictures convey the turmoil, tragedy and drama of this nightmare. These stories are intertwined with the police and fire dispatch broadcasts and public announcements to provide a timeline. Local history is included to provide context. Chapters are headed by the area’s weather reports as the winds play a powerful part.

The story of the Marshall fire is a book not to be missed!