Spring Fire evacuees return home today

FORT GARLAND — “We did it. We’re going home tomorrow,” Spring Fire Incident Commander Shane Greer said Wednesday at the final briefing with evacuees at the Blanca/Fort Garland Community Center.

Two weeks after it opened to house evacuees from the Spring Fire, the evacuation center will close today, July 12, as all remaining evacuees will be permitted to permanently return to their properties in Forbes Park.

Although firefighting activity continues on the Spring Fire, which began on June 27, burned nearly 108,000 acres and destroyed more than 200 homes, the fire was listed at 83 percent contained by Wednesday night.

Greer said he understood some homeowners did not have houses to return to, so their homecoming would be bittersweet. “Home is where the heart is,” he said. “This is a resilient community. Take care of each other.”

He said he hoped the next time he was in this area, it would be to go fishing.

“You all take care of yourselves,” he concluded.

The re-entry of the remaining evacuees on Thursday will be staggered, with Units K-P at 11 a.m., D-J at 12 p.m. and A-C at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m. the gate will be turned back to the homeowners association. Costilla County Emergency Coordinator Chris Rodriguez cautioned property owners to keep their rapid tags, however, as they would still be on pre-evacuation status.

Rodriguez added, “Some of you may not have a home to return to. This is a time to bond together as community and support your neighbor.”

He said although the evacuation center and disaster assistance center would no longer be set up in Fort Garland, the county staff would continue to be available in San Luis.

He also thanked all those who had assisted at the emergency operation center from local residents to those from around the state and elsewhere who had come to help.

Rodriguez added, “Thank you to the brave firemen and women. Thank you for putting your lives on the line to save our lives.”

Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Bill Werner gave evacuees official 24-hour notice on Wednesday that the shelter would be closing Thursday afternoon. He promised a special Wednesday evening dinner of Chinese buffet. Werner added that although the shelter would be closed, local Red Cross volunteers would continue assisting residents with recovery.

“We will part of the long-term recovery,” he said. “Local people will continue to help you out.”

Costilla County Administrator Ben Doon also shared parting words with those at the evacuation center. He said packets would be given to the evacuees with information including information concerning debris removal. He added that Jim Clare at the SLV Regional Landfill was coordinating efforts regarding debris removal. Doon cautioned residents not to move anything, however, until they had consulted with their insurance companies.

“God bless you all,” Doon concluded.

Costilla County Undersheriff Ricky Rodriguez thanked the evacuees for their patience. “We’re finally able to get all you guys back into the park.”

He also thanked the fire personnel, law enforcement and numerous agencies that had assisted in the past two weeks.

Information will continue to be posted at the web site www.slvemergency.org, and a recovery web site will soon be operational. It will be posted on the emergency web site.

Other highlights from Wednesday’s briefing included:

• Power should be on throughout Forbes Park although there might be scattered homes without it.

• Cell phone service is not yet restored in the park.

• Residents are being given flood plan information, as flash flooding is now a risk in the burn area. Tres Valles is under flash flooding warning, for example. Quick tips include: go to higher ground; do not drive into water; stay informed; and in a flood, “turn around, don’t drown.”

• Do not turn on propane systems without checking with the providers to make sure everything is safe.

• Many of the wells in Forbes Park are older, with PVC casing which is plastic and melts. If this was destroyed in the fire, cover the well so animals do not get into the well and consult with a well driller. Wells may have to be re-drilled. Well permits will be required and may be obtained at the Division of Water Resources at 301 Murphy in Alamosa. Those without water will go to the top of the list. Septic systems and cisterns may also have been damaged or destroyed in the fire.

• It is recommended regardless of where property owners are in the Forbes Park area that they sanitize their wells by dumping a gallon of bleach in the well, let it sit overnight and then pump it out until the water no longer has a taste or odor.

Photo by Jennifer Alonzo