Art made from ashes of state’s largest wildfire auctioned off to support first responders

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Cameron Peak fire, west of Fort Collins, became the largest fire in Colorado's history last summer.

It took 112 days before the fire became 100% contained. While the flames may be out, the destruction and ashes remain. However, a Northern Colorado man is turning some of those ashes into art.

Tim O'Hara and Lori Joseph founded the Ashes to Art Project in 2012 as a way for the creative community to support the first responders battling wildfires across Colorado.

Nearly a year since the devastating Cameron Peak fire, O'Hara's garage is filled with paintings, sculptures, drawings, and pieces of jewelry created from the ashes.

The work began as pieces of burned wood sent to more than 80 artists around the world. Now they're being returned as art.

"Every time you opened a package it's like, Woah, it blows your mind how much talent is in this room right now," said O'Hara.

Starting next Monday, May 10, all 100 pieces of art will be auctioned off online. The money will then go towards the Poudre Canyon and Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Protection Districts, two volunteer fire departments in Northern Colorado that helped battle the Cameron Peak fire.

The pieces to be auctioned off come from artists in all 50 states and parts of Great Britain.

O'Hara is also working on a book with pictures of the work. The proceeds from that project will also benefit volunteer fire departments.

To preview the artwork, click here.

For more information on the Ashes to Art Project, click here.