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Family Loses Cabin in Nash Ranch Fire

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Contributed by: Alexandra Gromko Winters on 7/6/2008

The July 4th holiday weekend wasn't spent watching the fireworks over Colorado Springs for the Gromko family. Instead, it was spent witnessing the devastation on their mountain land in Bear Trap Ranch from the June 26 Nash Ranch Fire. Nearly all of their 20 acres of land is blackened, many trees scorched, some completely, others partially. Their land was among the hardest hit properties in Bear Trap.

Amazingly, the home they built there about 7 years ago was untouched by flames. However, the original small cabin the family built 30 years ago was reduced to ashes. While it may have been more of a shack by modern standards, it was still a place the family of six slept, warmed up by the iron wood-burning stove, stored all of their camping gear, sat on the porch and enjoyed the mountain air. But most importantly, it housed a monument of memories, etched in wood on the bunk bed posts inside. Every family member would use a nail and scratch their names and the dates they were there. It got so that every guest that came up to the property with the family would do the same, making space a premium. The time-honored tradition grew to where eventually even grandchildren were etching their names and dates on the wood.

The little place was a labor of love, built by the two Gromko boys and their dad and enjoyed by all. When word of the fire hit the now-extended family, each member was sick with worry, wondering about the fate of the much larger new home, where they spend time nearly every weekend, and the fate of their little "shack."

Brother-in-law Bill Winters took off from his Gleneagle home immediately to see if he could make it to the place and help save the homes. Blocked by Park County Sheriff's cruisers, Bill was unable to gain access to the property because of the mandatory evacuation. He soon learned the fire was indeed burning on the Gromko family's land and that firefighters were doing all they could to spare the structures. It's amazing the helplessness one feels when one is powerless to do anything in the face of tragedy.

All the rest of the family could do was wait, worry, and wonder at what was happening, if their cabins were still standing, and what was becoming of their cherished property they'd owned since the early 1970's.

Finally, on July 4th, the majority of the family members were able to witness the aftermath. Sure enough, while most of Bear Trap Ranch was unaffected, the Gromkos' place was virtually all charred. All they could do was stare with wonder at the beloved mountain retreat they'd frequented for almost 40 years, now black and burned.

Two forts and a treehouse built long ago, were gone. Gone too were the colorful wildflowers, like Indian Paintbrush and Bluebells, usually prevalent this time of year. Former campsites the family used in the 1970s before any structures were built, were charred, the huge Ponderosa Pine trees now scorched and dead. The smell of burning wood was everywhere. Ashes and soot caked their legs as they walked around. "Hot spots" were still smoking, one week later. Their"little cabin" was gone.

But miraculously, the "big cabin" and surrounding decks and unattached garage were still standing. Fire had burned grass and trees right up to the buildings but somehow spared them. And in another part of the land, another surprise: a pet cemetery where four family cats and a dog are buried... was unscathed. The fire scorched the earth all around the burial plots but left the wooden crosses intact. Strange, how fire seems to have a mind of its own as to who becomes a victim and who doesn't. A doe was discovered near the property, dead, most likely of smoke inhalation. And a fawn was seen wandering alone on the property, seemingly lost from its herd.

There is so much sadness that comes with witnessing an event like a forest fire. Yet, there is also much hope about the rebirth and regrowth that will soon occur when the soot and ashes wash away. Now, the Gromkos look to the future. They look for what they can do to restore the land back to its natural beauty. Short of letting nature take its course, they also wait to see which of the large Ponderosa Pines and Douglas Firs and Blue Spruce and Aspens and other trees will make it and which will become future firewood logs. There is a lot of work ahead. But there is also much to be thankful for.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFO

Alexandra Gromko Winters

Colorado Springs , CO

Alexandra Gromko Winters has posted 1 story and 0 comments since joining on 7/6/2008. Alexandra Gromko Winters 's average story rating is 0.

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