Firefighters who fought to protect Bishop Castle leave their mark

RYE, Colo. (KRDO) - Firefighters from across the country not only protected Bishop Castle, a local landmark, from the recent Aspen Acres fire but also left a lasting personal mark.

Upon returning home, the Bishop family discovered that first responders had left signatures and donations in the castle’s visitor book, transforming their act of protection into a deeply personal gesture.

The Aspen Acres fire posed a significant threat to Bishop Castle, with flames nearly consuming the historic structure. While their primary mission was to protect the local landmark, the firefighters’ actions went beyond their duty, creating an unexpected discovery for the family. The signatures and donations found in the castle’s visitor book provided a unique insight into their dedication.

Dan Bishop, owner of Bishop Castle, expressed his emotional response to discovering the firefighters’ generosity. “They’re protecting my place and donating? You don’t really know how to feel about that it’s just butterflies, you know what I mean?” Bishop said.

The visitor book at Bishop Castle now holds pages filled with these signatures, with one entry noting “Jason Kammann, U.S. Forest Service” from a firefighter from Reno, Nevada.

Each signature represents a hero who worked to ensure the Bishop family had a home to return to.

Sage, Dan Bishop's wife, found the display of support deeply moving. “They’ve got a life-threatening job to do. And to see all of the signatures from the firefighters and people just loving the place. That was heartwarming,” Sage said.

Dan Bishop also reflected on how his late father would have appreciated the dedication of the firefighters. "My dad would be happy for the work they put in too," Bishop said.

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