Stories of inspiration and strength from those at the #117Fire

Donations are pouring in for a Colorado Springs Church whose members are collecting water and snacks for firefighters battling the #117Fire.

Their inspiration: Mindy Emick and her family. They lost everything on Tuesday, and while it’s been a hard couple days, she says she’s thankful her family and animals are safe.

When her community at Divine Redeemer Catholic Church heard the news, they were quick to act.

Together they chose to hold a drive to collect water and snacks for firefighters.

“They’re sweating and they’re laying down underneath the shade,” said Emick. “To be able to go get a bottle of water or drink close by, it really makes a world of difference.”

Collectively they collected more than 2,000 water bottle donations.

Those donations went to local crews and even ones from across the United States who are helping fight the 117 fire.

Erich Berryman is a captain and volunteer firefighter from Worland, Wyoming.

He arrived in Hanover yesterday, along with the rest of his crew.

Berryman has been in staging mode, keeping a close eye on the fire line, ready at a moment’s notice to jump into the firefight.

“Support them in any way with logistical needs such as water supplies or engines or anything else like that,” he said.

Along with Berryman and his team, crews here from South Dakota and Montana are also in staging mode, ready to dispatch if the fire flares up.

But not everyone is battling fires on the front line, linemen are working to rebuild electric lines brought down by flames.

And while several homes have been lost, there are some that have managed to survive.

Those families are now experiencing electrical outages, with crews working on getting them fixed.

Jim Mumford is just one of the many making sure families whose homes did survive, have electricity.

He says it’s important they get things back up and working for families who have already been through so much, and the firemen who already have the flames to deal with.

“We actually had guys out here Tuesday night, working through the night trying to keep people on but also trying to disconnect the services so the firemen wouldn’t have to worry about the electricity,” he said.

Mumford says most of the homes he’s visited have power.