‘A Hero’: Families thank pilot they credit for saving homes in the Aspen Acres Fire

SAN ISABEL, Colo. (KRDO) - Marissa Candelaria has always dreamed of passing down her family's wooden cabin to her children. It has been a generational tradition for around the last 70 years, according to Candelaria. She now has hope that her family will be able to continue the tradition in the midst of the Aspen Acres Fire.

Candelaria and her family had already packed some old mementos and games from the cabin earlier in the dry winter, anticipating potential fire risks.

→ Track evacuations, live updates on the "Aspen Acres" wildfire here 

“If I could describe it in any way, I would say, imagine having a piece of yourself burned. That’s what it felt like, risking losing that. It felt like losing a piece of my own heart and losing a piece of my mother’s heart. My grandmother’s heart pieces,” Candelaria said. “You watched your child grow up there, and then they got to watch their children go up there. And I got to take my children up there. And the idea of it being burned to the ground before I could honestly pass that traditional and rip my soul to shreds.”

Candelaria thanks an aerial firefighter's work to save her cherished family cabin in San Isabel from the Aspen Acres Fire. Earl Watters, an Arizona-based firefighter, provided video confirmation that the generational home remained unscathed, offering relief after Candelaria hadn't heard any updates from official channels.

Candelaria credits Watters with not only preserving her family's nearly 70-year-old cabin but also potentially safeguarding hundreds of other homes in the community from widespread destruction.

Candelaria feared the worst for the property due to the Aspen Acres Fire. She reached out to Watters online , who she saw was working the Aspen Acres Fire, asking if he could fly over her property, just to see if it was still standing. Her inquiry led to Watters recounting his flights, confirming he had flown over the area and even sharing video of him dropping water over the cabin.

“My jaw dropped. I was like, there’s no way I had to stop the video at least four times. I was like, I gotta zoom in on this. There’s no way you can see the lodge is unscathed,” recounted Candelaria.

She says this has saved her and hundreds of others from relying on the Disaster Assistance Center for long-term resources.

Watters’ efforts extended beyond Candelaria's property. Community members expressed profound gratitude for his actions. Michael and Alexis Hall, neighbors living nearby, shared their thanks.

“There are people who run from danger, and there are heroes who fly straight into it. Thank you for your courage, your skill, and your willingness to risk your own life to protect ours. Because of your dedication as a helicopter firefighter, countless cabin stand families have homes to return to.” Michael Hall, whose home was also saved, added, “It is for the last ten years. The culmination of my dad. Wayne’s entire life’s work is a shelter for Alexis Hall to be cared for and loved in her retirement. A space where we played, danced, joked, and laughed. A shelter from the chaos and a safe haven.”

She noted that the area near the Pine Lodge and the west side of the lake remained relatively unscathed. Candelaria couldn't share enough of the community’s appreciation.

“You are more than a firefighter. You are truly our hero, and our community is forever grateful for the things you’ve done," shared the cabin owner.

Candelaria says that beyond his firefighting duties, Watters is also an actor and a comedic gunslinger at a Wild West theme park in Tombstone, Arizona. Watters was unable to comment on this story.

She wanted to share her thanks for Watters, his crew, and all the other firefighters who are doing everything they can to save lives, homes, and wildlife while fighting the Aspen Acres Fire. Candelaria plans to return to her family cabin as soon as she is allowed.

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