Bittersweet homecoming for Mountain Shadows residents

It was a homecoming that some residents feared would never happen. On Wednesday, 256 families were able to return to the Mountain Shadows subdivision, the neighborhood most impacted by the Waldo Canyon Fire.

“We knew the houses that were on fire at the bottom of the street, so we figured our whole neighborhood would be gone,” said Terri Hulsey.

While 346 homes burned, hundreds of others were saved, including Hulsey’s. Her roof did catch fire, but she later learned that firefighters broke down her door and went inside to fight the fire and save her home.

“There’s a little damage, but it can all be fixed,” said Hulsey. “We’re really happy they chose our house to save.”

But she, and others coming home to still-standing houses, said their feelings were bittersweet.

“You feel bad talking to other people who you know have lost their homes,” she said.

There are many places in the neighborhood where unaffected homes are very close or even next door to houses that were destroyed.

“Out hearts go out to everybody who lost their homes,” said Augie Ochoa, whose home was untouched by the fire. “It’s not going to be the same until they re-build and are back here again.”

Throughout Mountain Shadows there are signs with promises that the neighborhood will re-build.