10 years after the Waldo Canyon Fire, neighbors continue to reconnect together

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- 10 years after the Waldo Canyon Fire tore through the Mountain Shadows neighborhood, a group of over 20 neighbors came together for an annual barbeque Saturday in Colorado Springs.

The neighbors started meeting for the annual barbeque the summer after the Waldo Canyon Fire burned down their homes. They like to hold the event every year to come together as a community.

"It was just a way to reconnect with people," said Carla Albers. Albers' home on Ashton Park burned down, and she said she comes to the event almost every year. Albers added many people who moved away still return for the annual barbeque.

"We don't see each other as much as we used to, so this is just a fun annual thing that we do."

It's not all happy thoughts though. Some years, Albers feels sad on the anniversary of the fire that destroyed her home.

"Honestly, years into it, we're just happy to see each other and get to spend some time with each other," Albers continued. "Obviously, those who went through the fire together were a real support for each other, so we have deeper ties and bonds than some neighbors do."