Residents ‘move from crisis mode to rebuilding’ after fire

CBA, several Christian publishers and authors in Colorado Springs, Colo., have expressed a sense of relief as they escaped unscathed one of the most destructive blazes in the state’s history.

More than 500 houses were burned and two killed by the 16,000-acre Black Forest fire, prompting thousands to flee. The blaze, which began June 11 and stretched 22 square miles, took nine days to contain, the Associated Press reported.

WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group Publicity Manager Beverly Rykerd told Christian Retailing that the company’s offices reopened June 18 after closing two days. WaterBrook Multnomah has a staff of 45 in Colorado Springs.

“No homes were lost among WaterBrook Multnomah’s staff—praise God,” said Rykerd, who was able to return to her Black Forest home after being evacuated.

Rick Christian, founder of Alive Communications and Bondfire Books, said several employees of his literary agency, including his family, were evacuated.

“We did not close because our offices aren’t in the fire zone, and so our offices became a storage place for displaced fire victims,” said Christian, who lives in the Black Forest area. “While our homes are safe so far, we’re surrounded by smoke and the heartache of others who didn’t have advance notice and escaped with just the clothes on their backs or who couldn’t reach their homes because the fire spread so fast.

“I was personally moved by the generosity of those who reached out to us,” he added. “Last year, with the Waldo Canyon fire, we took four families into our home. This year, those same families reached out to us in extraordinary ways. The helpers became the helped.”

The Black Forest fire was located near last June’s Waldo Canyon fire, which destroyed 346 homes and killed two.

CBA President Curtis Riskey said no employees of the Association for Christian Retail lost their homes. 

“One team member was evacuated, and we had another prepared to leave at a moment’s notice who lives just outside the pre-evacuation zone,” he said. 

Left Behind best-selling author Jerry B. Jenkins, who lives in the Black Forest area, posted on his Facebook page that his house was “unscathed.”

“Night rain helped and firefighters are optimistic about containment,” said Jenkins, who evacuated 85 miles to the west with his wife, Dianna. “Then Black Forest moves from crisis mode to rebuilding.”

• Prev
• Next