Colorado Family Waits in Omaha For Smoke To Clear
How you can help Colorado fire victims
Omaha, NE - President Obama toured Colorado Springs Friday afternoon and declared a federal disaster area. He thanked firefighters risking their lives and encouraged families who have lost their homes. By the numbers, the fire covers 26 miles, has burned 17-thousand acres, destroyed 346 homes, 20-thousand others are at risk. Sadly, two people have been killed.
While hundreds have lost everything, thousands are wondering when they can go home and what will be left. Friday, a Colorado Springs family sat down with KMTV's Liz Dorland.
609 miles from home the Ellis Family keeps a close watch on-line of the massive wildfire. Mom Delynn has been relying on Facebook. "People are posting their own pictures. Here's firemen sleeping in the road. I just feel for those firemen, I just can't believe," said Delynn while pointing at a picture.
Over 11-hundred firefighters continue to battle the inferno that's burning outside the Ellis' back door. "Our house is okay," smiled Delynn.
While 100- foot flames shot into the air Tuesday, the Colorado family became alarmed. 13-year old Madelynn said, "It came out of no-where at first cause I walked out on my deck and I see these huge flames just coming up and they were orange and there was this weird orangeish look around it while the sun was setting."
Older brother Clark had to drive by the fires early in the week. He said, "It was very scary because you could see all these very bright lights on the hillside and those were all houses that were going up."
The Ellis Family packed-up for grandma's house in Omaha. Important things like pictures, music, guitars and hockey gear sit in boxes and laundry baskets.
What may be considered important is changing for them, knowing this Fourth of July holiday won't be the same. "I probably won't be as much of the pyromaniac as I would be with the fire going on back home," admitted Clark.
They're thankful to the firefighters who are working around the clock to put out the blaze and that their home is okay for now.
You can help those in Colorado who have lost their homes from the fires by donating to the United Way at http://www.helpcoloradonow.org/
Reported By: Liz Dorland, ldorland@action3news.com
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