Rising from the ashes

A burned car sits in what once was a neighborhood but is now rubble because of the Dec. 30, 2021, Marshall Fire, Jan. 3. Due to hurricane-force winds, the fire spread fast, destroying whole neighborhoods in less than 45 minutes.

A house remains standing and untouched by flames while the fence is damaged and burned, Jan. 3. Many people came back to find only the fence of their home burned, showing how close the flames got.

Another destroyed car sits in the driveway of its former home, Dec 30, 2021.

A broken pot and solar-powered flower garden light sit among the rubble, Dec 30, 2021. Many garden statues are the only things that remain untouched by the flames. (Sophia Stern I The Collegian)

Colorful stone towers remain standing in the charred dirt and rubble, Dec 30, 2021. The Marshal fire damaged or destroyed between $819 million and $1.6 billion worth of homes alone. (Sophia Stern I The Collegian)

920 is written in spray paint on a piece of a brick wall, Dec 30, 2021. The number of homes was spray-painted on the houses remains to identify each one. (Sophia Stern I The Collegian)

The deck of a home is destroyed and melted from the fire, Dec 30th, 2021. The fire damaged over 100 homes.

The brick wall of a house stands alone, charred from the fire, Dec 30, 2021. The fire started behind the Costco in Superior, CO.

Brothers Tobin and Brodik Howe look at the foundation of their home Feb. 13. The Howe family was one of many families who lost their homes in the Marshall Fire.

Tobin Howe walks through the rubble of his home Feb. 13. Howe is a current high schooler along with his brother.

Brodik Howe walks through the snow-covered rubble Feb. 13.

Tobin Howe holds what used to be a tire of one of his family’s cars Feb. 13. The family lost this car in the Marshall Fire.

Keaton Howe and his son Tobin Howe dig up a flat rock that was part of their backyard patio, Feb. 13. In order to preserve some rocks from their patio, they dug them up and piled them against the back fence so the excavation team wouldn’t take them.

Keaton Howe rolls a rock toward his back fence Feb. 13. The Howe family went back to their home to preserve some rocks to use in landscaping in the future.

Shaun Howe looks at the foundation of her home, Feb 13 2022. Many people did not receive a reverse 911 call including the Howe family.

Brodik Howe looks at the place where his house once stood Feb. 13. The family drove back home once they heard of the fire but was unable to get into their neighborhood.

Brodik Howe points to the rubble of his home Feb. 13. All of Howe’s possessions, aside from what he had packed to go to Winter Park, burned in the fire.

Hazel Miller performs to those affected by the Marshall Fire, Feb. 20, 2022. Hazel Miller & The Collective closed the night out at the Let Your Light Shine benefit concert.

CW walks around the Elk Lodge as he plays a guitar solo, Feb 20, 2022. CW is the lead vocals in Twenty Hands High, a Denver based Country and southern rock band.

Couples dancing and enjoying the music, Feb 20, 2022. Let Your Light Shine held a benefit concert to help Marshal Fire victims.

Th lead singer of Dive Bar Diva, and Hazel Miller sing together on stage, Feb 20, 2022. The Benefit concert had many sponsors including local artists and companies like Longmont Dairy.

David Fermanich, a singer for Soda Blue performs the first song of the concert, Feb 20, 2022. The concert had five bands perform, along with a food truck, and an auction to help raise funds.

The band Twenty Hands High performs while guests dance along to the music Feb. 20, 2022. All proceeds from the concert went to those affected by the Marshall Fire to help underinsured people.

David Fermanich, a singer for Soda Blue, performs the first song of a concert Feb. 20. The concert had four bands performing, a food truck and an auction to help raise funds for those affected by the Marshall Fire.