Sunday July 1, residents of Woods Landing, Jelm, Fox Park and surrounding communities received the notice from the Albany County Sheriff to evacuate their homes. The pre evacuation notice was sent out to residents at 11 a.m., followed by the official evacuation notice at 7 p.m. On Monday July 9 the evacuation notices were lifted, all roads were reopened and residents moved back into their homes.
Homeowner Bill Pratt and his wife were working in Woods Landing when they received the pre evacuation notice. “They said to leave,” Pratt said. The notice did not mention what items to take from their home. Pratt made sure his horses and dogs were looked after in nearby Laramie and that his children and wife were safe in Loveland, Colo. and Fort Collins, Colo.
“I was told to leave but of course I didn’t,” Pratt said.
Another Woods Landing resident stayed with his wife in a camper in Laramie. He left his sprinklers running on his roof in an attempt to fight the fire, the Associated Press reported.
The Fourth of July fireworks show was canceled in Woods Landing and surrounding communities to prevent further fires. In Colorado one homemade sign read, “FAIR WARNING: Anyone using or allowing use of fireworks in this neighborhood will be dealt with harshly! And that doesn’t mean just by the police!”
Firefighters from Big Laramie Volunteer Fire Department, Little Laramie, Centennial, Tie Siding, the Forest Service and hot shot crews from around the country fought the wildfire with engines, helicopters and airplanes from the Air Force according to Big Laramie Fire Fighter Larry Laflam.
“We work to help each other,” Bill Sheehan, Big Laramie firefighter and owner of Woods Landing, said. “We are a very close knit group and it’s nice to be a part of it.”
Saturday June 30 the local firefighters fought to protect structures along Fox Creek Road.
“It was Hell there was fire everywhere,” Laflam said.
Laflam was riding in engine six fighting the fire and said “the glass was hot with flames.”
With the help of weekend rain the wildfire was declared 100 percent contained on July 9, according to the Albany County website.
Residents and local business made signs in support of the firefighters. “The community stepped right up,” Laflam said. A local Quality Inn rented half price rooms, allowed late checkout and alowed pets for evacuees.
“All residents are relieved,” Sheehan said. “Hopefully nothing else will happen.”
