Tribune Tri Lakes 6-26-13
June 26, 2013
Tri-Lakes
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
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Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County • Volume 48, Issue 26
Police officers assist in Black Forest Fire Stepped in to help immediately, assisted with evacuations and patrols By Lisa Collacott
lcollacott@ourcoloradonews. com Firefighters haven’t been the only heroes during the massive Black Forest Fire. Police officers have been assisting with evacuations and protecting homes still standing. Not long after the fire started the Monument and Palmer Lake Police Departments were assisting the El
Paso County Sheriff’s Office in any they could. “We responded before they even asked,” Lt. Jason Vanderpool from the Palmer Lake Police Department said. Monument Police Department responded about 4 p.m. with five officers on June 11, the day the Black Forest Fire started. They sent seven officers on June 12, 10 on June 13, nine on June 14, seven on June 15 and five on June 16. “The police will continue to patrol over there until they are not needed any longer by El Paso County,” Pam Smith, Monument town manager, said. Vanderpool said Palmer Lake sent at least two officers per night.
Officers assisted with evacuations, escorts, check points and helped patrol the evacuated areas from looters. Officers worked 12hour shifts and many came in on their vacation and gave up days off to help. “They’ve been working around the clock and working very hard with El Paso County and other forces over there to make sure those areas are safe and people’s homes don’t get burglarized while continuing to do our own patrols,” Smith said. During a news brief Sheriff Terry Maketa said there has been a tremendous amount of support from law enforcement. Colorado Springs Police Department and Fountain Police Department also assisted.
Police officers were going door-to-door Thursday afternoon when evacuation orders for the Flying Horse area were issued. Photo by Rob Carrigan
Students, staff lose homes
Many students who attend D-38 and D-20 schools live in Black Forest area By Lisa Collacott
lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com
said the couple were found in their garage and appeared to be getting ready to evacuate. During a news briefing when Maketa first announced two victims had been found Maketa said that someone who had spoken with the couple the afternoon of the fire said the two had said there was a glow to the west and they were preparing to leave. During a second conversation with the couple popping and cracking could be heard in the background. Marc Herklotz was a civilian contractor and Robin Herklotz was an Air Force contractor, according to a press release issued from Air Force Space Command. “The men and women of Air Force Space Command are saddened by the loss of these two members of our AFSPC family,”
Many students and staff members in both Academy School District 20 and Lewis-Palmer School District 38 were affected by the Black Forest Fire in some way or another. Three D-20 schools — Edith Wolford Elementary School, School in the Woods and Discovery Canyon Campus — were in the evacuation zones as well as Ray E. Kilmer in D-38. The fire came dangerously close to Wolford and School in the Woods but didn’t cause any damage to the buildings. DCC is located on Northgate Boulevard in Flying Horse and Kilmer is on Walker Road. Two D-38 schools, Lewis-Palmer High School and Bear Creek Elementary School, were in the pre-evacuation zone. Approximately 41,000 people were evacuated at one point and more than 500 homes are considered a total loss. D-20 is still confirming which students and staff lost their homes but as of June 17, 161 students living in 91 houses had their homes either destroyed or partially damaged. Twenty-two staff members have lost their homes. Two D-38 families lost their homes which impacted three students and five staff members also lost their homes. One staff member had their property damaged. In an email sent to parents of D-20 students Superintendent Dr. Mark Hatchell said, “The foundation of Academy District 20 is strong and the people even stronger. We will rise to meet the challenges before us. Our school district has been committed to our students, staff and community for more than 50 years. That
Damage continues on Page 5
School continues on Page 5
A homeowner works hard Friday morning to evaluate damage in the Vessey area. Photo by Rob Carrigan
Black Forest residents return to properties Fire at 100 percent containment after little over a week By Lisa Collacott
lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com Just a little over a week after the most destructive fire in Colorado history started, the fire is now 95 percent contained and some residents have been allowed to go home. As of June 20, the fire, which started on June 11, burned 14,280 acres and destroyed 509 homes. As of the morning of June 20, the fire was 95 percent contained and Rich Harvey, incident commander, was hoping for 100 percent containment by the evening. Harvey and his Type I incident command POSTAL ADDRESS
BY THE NUMBERS
9 Days 41,000 Evacuated 14,280 Acres burned 511 Homes destroyed 2 Lives lost
team were getting ready to leave and move on to another fire and the Type 3 management team was scheduled to take over on June 21. “The fire is not a done deal. The fire will not be left
unattended,” Harvey said. The fire also tragically took two lives. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victims as 52-year-old Marc Herklotz and his wife 50-year-old Robin Herklotz of 6720 Jicarillo Drive. El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa has
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