Three years have passed since the Marshall Fire ravaged a tranquil suburban area to the northwest of Denver, Colorado, causing widespread devastation. The fierce, wind-driven flames obliterated entire communities, rendering homes to cinders, uprooting families, and changing lives permanently. Now, those who endured this disaster are sharing their hard-won knowledge to assist those dealing with the consequences of wildfires in Los Angeles.
Three years ago, the Marshall Fire devastated a quiet suburban community northwest of Denver, Colorado, leaving destruction in its wake. Entire neighborhoods were reduced to ashes as the wind-driven blaze tore through homes, displacing families and forever altering lives. Today, survivors of that tragedy are using their hard-earned lessons to help others grappling with the aftermath of wildfires in Los Angeles.
For Melanie Glover, a survivor of the Marshall Fire, the experience was harrowing. On the day before New Year’s Eve in 2021, she was stuck in traffic while her family frantically tried to escape their burning home. Helplessly listening to their struggles over the phone, Glover could only pray that they would make it out alive. When the immediate danger passed, the trauma lingered. Weeks turned into months as she grappled with the emotional and logistical challenges of rebuilding her life.
Fostering connections among survivors
In January 2025, the Palisades and Eaton Fires caused significant devastation throughout Los Angeles, demolishing houses and uprooting numerous families. Aware of the immense difficulties these victims encountered, Julie DiBiase, a Boulder local connected to both Colorado and California, created a Facebook group named “From the Mountains to the Beach.” This platform aimed to connect Marshall Fire survivors with those impacted by the wildfires in California.
Con más de 1,400 integrantes, el grupo de DiBiase se ha convertido en un salvavidas para las víctimas de incendios forestales. Va más allá de ser solo un lugar para obtener consejos prácticos—es un entorno donde los sobrevivientes pueden relacionarse con personas que realmente comprenden su situación. “Hay algo especialmente reconfortante al hablar con alguien que ha pasado por lo mismo,” comentó DiBiase. “No se trata solo de compartir recursos; se trata de compartir empatía.”
Una de las integrantes del grupo, Anna Ballou, lo descubrió por casualidad mientras buscaba en línea orientación para enfrentar las secuelas de un incendio forestal. Aunque la casa alquilada de Ballou escapó de las llamas, quedó cubierta de hollín, cenizas y productos químicos utilizados en la extinción del fuego. Estaba preocupada por los posibles riesgos para la salud de su familia y la incertidumbre de habitar una vivienda que no les pertenecía.
One of the group’s members, Anna Ballou, stumbled across it while searching online for guidance on navigating the aftermath of a wildfire. Although Ballou’s rental home was spared from the flames, it was coated in soot, ash, and chemicals from the firefighting efforts. She worried about the potential health risks for her family and the uncertainty of living in a home they didn’t own.
Transformar el dolor en propósito
Para sobrevivientes como DiBiase y Glover, brindar ayuda a otros les ha dado un sentido de propósito tras su propio trauma. DiBiase se inspiró en otro grupo de Facebook creado por Meryl Suissa, una sobreviviente del Incendio de Marshall. Originalmente concebido como una plataforma de intercambio directo entre donantes y sobrevivientes, el grupo de Suissa se transformó en un recurso más amplio para la recuperación tras desastres. Ahora, Suissa ha adaptado el concepto para apoyar a las víctimas de los incendios en California, ofreciendo consejos y recopilando recursos basados en las lecciones aprendidas del Incendio de Marshall.
Suissa destacó que el apoyo comunitario es fundamental en la recuperación tras un desastre. “La mayor parte del proceso de recuperación proviene de las personas—tus vecinos, negocios locales y organizaciones de base,” comentó. “Son las pequeñas conexiones humanas las que marcan la mayor diferencia.”
Suissa emphasized that community support plays a crucial role in disaster recovery. “Most of the recovery process comes from people—your neighbors, local businesses, and grassroots organizations,” she said. “It’s the small, human connections that make the biggest difference.”
Reconstrucción con fortaleza
Para Glover, la reconstrucción de su hogar en Louisville, Colorado, se convirtió en una forma de transformar su dolor en algo constructivo. Optó por emplear materiales resistentes al fuego y sostenibles, como los EcoBlox de Colorado Earth, fabricados a partir de tierra y arcilla. Su objetivo era crear una vivienda que fuera ecológica y estuviera mejor preparada para enfrentar futuros desastres.
“When people hear ‘Earth home,’ they often envision something unusual or quirky,” Glover remarked. “However, I sought to demonstrate that it’s possible to create a stunning, practical dwelling that’s also sustainable and resistant to fires.”
Glover is currently focused on modifying Earth home designs to comply with California-specific building codes, with the hope of encouraging others to explore similar strategies. Through sharing her experiences, she seeks to increase awareness about alternative construction methods that might lessen the effects of wildfires.
A community that remembers
A community that doesn’t forget
One of the recurring themes among survivors is the feeling of being forgotten. Natural disasters often dominate headlines in the immediate aftermath, but public attention quickly shifts to the next crisis. For survivors, however, the journey to recovery is long and arduous.
Este sentimiento de comunidad ha sido el núcleo de las redes de apoyo entre sobrevivientes que han surgido tras los recientes incendios forestales. Desde Colorado hasta California, estas redes están demostrando que, incluso ante pérdidas inimaginables, las personas pueden unirse para reconstruir comunidades más fuertes y resilientes.
As Glover keeps sharing her stories and promoting eco-friendly rebuilding methods, she contemplates a piece of wisdom she once came across: “Find your pain, and you find your purpose.” For her, this purpose has crystallized—supporting others as they face the hurdles of recovery and instilling hope for what lies ahead.
As Glover continues to share her experiences and advocate for sustainable rebuilding practices, she reflects on a piece of wisdom she once heard: “Find your pain, and you find your purpose.” For her, that purpose has become clear—helping others navigate the challenges of recovery and inspiring hope for the future.
In the aftermath of devastation, these survivors are showing that healing is not just about rebuilding homes; it’s about rebuilding lives, one connection at a time. Through their efforts, they are turning tragedy into an opportunity to create a more supportive and resilient future for wildfire-affected communities.