Disaster cleanup underway for some homes in Beulah

BEULAH, Colo. (KRDO) - On Tuesday, Evon Davis met with disaster cleanup crews as they got to work on what was left of her home in Beulah. Her home on Pine Drive was destroyed by the "Aspen Acres" fire after being in her family since the early 1960s.

KRDO13 initially met with Davis when she first returned to her home on July 13.

The property held significant personal history for Davis, who spent summers there as a child and intended it to be her permanent residence for her upcoming retirement. She said she can't buy a house in the current market, making the lost house crucial to her plans.

Davis described her emotional state as a fluctuating experience since the fire. Davis said just days into being evacuated, she was notified that her home was a total loss.

She explained that she tries to stay distracted and focused on the future to avoid sitting with the grief of losing her home.

"It comes and goes in waves," Davis said. "I try to keep busy, stay focused on the future and what needs to be done. Because when things slow down, and it gets quiet, I, I can feel the heaviness on my chest and it's, you know, it scares me."

Before the fire, Davis remembers Beulah as stunningly beautiful and incredibly lush, healthy green forest. She says every day she'd see wildlife and take photos and videos. On Tuesday, she's cherishing the photos and videos she has left.

Volunteer crisis cleanup crews are now assisting with debris removal, piling metal to be hauled away for scrap. On Tuesday, heavy machinery and volunteers could be spotted amongst the debris that once were homes.

All the volunteers who spoke with KRDO13 said they just wanted to help. Some who live in the San Luis Valley say they could see the smoke from the Aspen Acres Fire in their neighborhoods.

Davis emphasized the importance of cleaning up the fire's remnants to facilitate the land's natural healing process.

"Fortunately, I have people who know a lot about things like mushroom cultivation and how we can help speed up the process of getting the mycelial networks back into the soil and healing the land so that the plants can grow. And, you know, even when I was walking around when I saw a green sprig of grass, I just, you know, felt such gratitude for that because I know it will grow back and it will be beautiful again," shared Davis.

Davis says she cannot afford to rebuild her house due to a lack of insurance. She also noted that her family used to have insurance for the home, but at some point down the line she was no longer able to insure the home.

"I don't like using the word rebuild because I'm not actually going to rebuild the house. There was no insurance," Davis said. "But I can rebuild my life. And I can help the land to heal. And this is the first step."

Davis interprets the event as a spiritual lesson about loss and renewal, not just for her but for all humanity to reconsider their relationship with the Earth.

"For some of us, that spiritual journey was to learn about loss," Davis said. "You know, and renewal. I think the renewal part is important. It's not just an ending. It's not just loss. There's a rebirth as well. And that's our spiritual lesson to learn."

Now moving forward, instead of rebuilding the cabin, Davis plans to get a camper. She says this would be a practical solution that also considers future fire safety.

"I think if I have a camper, then if I could get a pre-evacuation, I can hook up and I can leave, I can get out of the way," Davis said. "Then I know I'm safe and I'm out of the way. You know, so I won't be blocking other people if they need to evacuate. And so I think it's a smart plan, actually."

She expressed the utmost gratitude for the volunteer crisis cleanup crews.

Cleanup crews are expected to be on-site for ten days to continue removing debris. Those who were impacted by the fires and need assistance can call 970-283-7325 to reach the crisis cleanup hotline.

Christian Aid Ministries was also on-site, helping to clean up. Those in need of help can call 330-473-3159 to reach them.

Davis anticipates that the land will heal and regrow, eventually becoming a meadow and attracting wildlife once more. If you would like to support Davis during this time, you can do so here.

Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.