Evacuees return to what is left of their homes

As fire crews continue to battle the Highway 117 fire, evacuees were able to return to their homes but for some, there was nothing to return to.

When Stan Gurley returned, he saw a barn burned to the ground, “It’s a shame people are losing all their stuff out here,” Gurley says. Using a water hose, Gurley attempted to extinguish the remaining small flames that eventually reignited with the help of strong and relentless winds.

For Jodi Munderback her home was untouched by the flames, but she was worried about something else, “My animals is all I care about. I could care less about the property.” She says her animals were fine. However, for her neighbor’s cows, a few were burned and couldn’t move. They had to be put down by the owner.

Animals were one of the main concern for a lot of people. Many who live in Hanover have livestock that they tried to pack up quickly. Some were lucky, others were not and had to leave their gates open hoping the animals would find safety on their own.