Marshall Fire Destroys Wainscott Inglis home

Fire Marshalls banged on the door while yelling "get out NOW! Leave everything. You must go NOW!"

 

Thursday, December 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire swept through the suburban neighborhoods of Superior and Louisville, Colorado, destroying everything in its path. Fueled by 115 mph winds and a season void of rain or snow, within hours, the fires had consumed more than 6,200 residential acres, making the Marshall Fire the most destructive fire in all of Colorado’s history. More than 35,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes. Teresa and Jon's home and out buildings were among the nearly 1,000 that burned to the ground.

 

Teresa and Jon have each other, their dogs (Pip and Bootsie), and the clothes on their backs. Two months ago Jon was diagnosed with stage 4, inoperable prostate cancer that has spread throughout his entire body making getting shoes on a very time consuming task.  Jon wears slippers now because there wasn't time to get his shoes on. Their cats, Darcie and Gracie, were hiding from the confusion and couldn't be found quickly enough. All personal possessions, art, family heirlooms, photos, medical supplies, had to be left behind. Following the Fire Marshalls down the road, literally through the flames, the back window of Jon's truck blew out from the heat and wind. Fire was burning a football field length every two seconds, flames were 40 feet high - angels worked frantically to save as many as they could.

 

As can be seen in one of the photos, their home was burned to the ground.  Only the chimney and an archway, where Teresa planted climbing flowers, remain.

 

In addition to Jon's long dedication to volunteering in the community, Teresa spent hours growing vegetable gardens and planting flowers, bushes, and trees.  Although Elk would often eat it, Teresa didn’t mind sharing. Because of drought, she put a baby pool for fresh water out at night so animals passing through could have water. She piled a stack of stones in the wading pool so small animals could get out if they fell in. They were visited by rabbits, fox, bobcats, deer, bears, raccoons, prairie dogs, and elk. Teresa was trying to create a wildlife sanctuary where native plants, bushes, and trees would feed wildlife, allowing them to safely exist with the human inhabitants of the mesa. Teresa and Jon loved living in the beautiful setting they had created together.

 

Now living at a hotel with other survivors of the fire, they hope to rebuild. The photo of the home site after the fire was shared by an animal rescue volunteer searching for Darcie and Gracie.

 

Please help, in whatever way you can. All funds collected go directly to help Jon and Teresa rebuild their lives. If funds donated exceed their needs, they will be passed on to others needing help in recovering from this devastation.

 

Teresa and Jon are so grateful for your kindness. Prayers and good wishes are both appreciated.

Please share this with others who would be interested in helping.

 

Jayne Wainscott Stommel (Teresa's sister in Indiana) and Barbara Ewing Meyer (Teresa's daughter in Florida) are managing this effort on behalf of Teresa and Jon.