Hayman Fire Incident

The Hayman Fire of June and July 2002 was arguably the worst fire in Colorado history. Many folks were able to get into the Hayman fire area for the first time on the Fourth of July.  The holiday gave me time to visit my parent's house in Trout Creek Ranch for the first time since road restrictions were lifted.  Many of the images below were taken with a small digital camera.

U.S. Forest Service information on the fire is here.

One of the many signs thanking firefighters.  Taken along the road from Sedalia to Deckers.

A "For Sale" sign in a burned area in Westcreek.

A burned house in Westcreek.  This was a friend of Dad's, who said this house was spectacular.  Note the metal roofing.  

Montana firefighters at the Westcreek Volunteer Fire Station.

More firefighters who I somehow convinced to have their picture taken.  At the Westcreek Station. 

The view directly behind the Westcreek station.

The back wall of the Westcreek Volunteer Fire Station building.  The building is OK, but this is evidence of just how close and how hot the fire was.

Time to evacuate!  Renee took these next four pictures while loading up a horse trailer with some house contents (this particular picture is a composite of two images).

The sun disappears, not to return for a few days.

Incredibly dense smoke.  Renee said that this yellow light was from the setting sun, not the fire.

Mom and Dad's garage, view 1.

Mom and Dad's garage, view 2.

Mom and Dad's garage, view 3.

This is what's left of a few cases of Gideon Bibles that they had in the garage.

Mom and Dad's garage, view 4.

Dad splices electrical cord for a borrowed generator.  The fire destroyed the electrical pole; Mom and Dad are effectively "camping" in the house.

Mom and Dad's garage, close-up.  The fire didn't get hot enough to melt iron (though the is some "sagging" iron framework.  It did get hot enough to melt glass and aluminium (m.p. 1220 °F). 

One of the better firefighter signs.  On the road from Sedalia to Deckers.

Another view of the garage, from near the house.  A number of people have asked about why the propane tank didn't blow.

It is uncertain whether the satellite dish has survived or not.

Paint blisters on the side of the house.  Dad had a recording thermometer on the other side of the house; it was "maxed out" at 125°F.  I suspect that this side of the house got a bit warmer!  Notice the windows, cracked from the intense heat.

A neighbor on the other side of the street who was not so lucky.

The Horse Creek Saloon, on Highway 67 south of Deckers.  

A closer view of the Horse Creek Saloon.

Most images taken July 4, 2002 by Christopher Lindley (email). Camera is a cheap Hewlett-Packard 2 megapixel "photosmart 318".   "Smoke" pictures taken June 9th by Renee Lindley.  Camera was a point-and-shoot; images were scanned.