Neighbors return Wednesday to see homes destroyed by Pueblo County wildfire

The sight of a row of five homes reduced to rubble in a Pueblo County neighborhood kept Barnett Road busy Wednesday.

“I was hoping there’d be something to salvage, but there’s nothing left,” said Karen Grace, who lost her home of 30 years in the fire. “It’s all gone. I’m 72, I’m too old to start over. I got out as quickly as I could because I couldn’t breathe and thought I’d die of smoke inhalation.”

The homes were destroyed Tuesday afternoon during the Barnett Fire.

Authorities lifted evacuation orders late Tuesday night as fire victims, evacuees and curious passers-by came to see the damage.

Another victim is Barb Benedict, who had lived in her home for nearly 40 years.

“It’s an opportunity,” she said. “That’s how I’m looking at it. I’m not too old to start over. I have insurance and I’m going to rebuild.”

Jason McCandless lost the home he grew up in.

“I don’t know what to do or where to go next,” he said.

Firefighters said they have traced the fire’s starting point to an area a half-mile away but are still investigating how it started.

“We don’t think it was arson,” said Chief Bret Marascola, of the Pueblo Rural Fire Department.

The fire is the third in as many weeks in eastern Pueblo County, fueled by dry conditions, fanned by strong winds and moving at a speed that stunned onlookers.

“Mitigation would have made a big difference in this fire,” Marascola said. “We’re asking people to please remove excess fuels from their property, be alert to weather conditions and make sure that any fires are completely out.”

Utility workers combed the neighborhood to check on power lines and repair damaged natural gas lines; gas was shut off to the area Wednesday.

Grace found hope in a gift from a stranger.

“He just stopped, got out and gave me a $100 bill,” she said. “I thanked him and started crying.”