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, we're sharing some of the voices of those impacted by the fire.
'111 years of history — lost.' The historic home in Superior that burned to the ground
The house at 101 Coal Creek Drive had a history almost as long as Superior itself. It was constructed 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, showed Rocky Mountain PBS the remnants of the home and spoke of the impact she felt when she realized it was gone.
