Unused Illustrations

Cerro Grande Fire

In 2000 A forest fire ravaged this city. I remember the disaster of trying to evacuate. At the time most of my aunts and uncles lived in Los Alamos, and when the evacuation occurred, I remember they all came to our house in White Rock. My parents stocked up the fridge. And of course I remember 2 AM that night, May 11, 2000, my parents got my brother and I out of bed and put us in the car. We left everything behind except clothes and a few games to keep us occupied. My family was lucky, but I know some of you left everything to flee the fire and also lost everything. It took forever to get out of White Rock. As the next few days progressed, I remember watching the news and seeing peoples houses burning on TV. People’s livelihood literally went up in smoke.

Fast forward a few weeks - we were allowed back to town and I remember riding around town with my parents seeing the damage. We were driving up Arizona street and I remember seeing that there was almost nothing left. The trees burned so hot that was left of them was an intricate miniature tunnel systems where the roots once were. Cars were mere shells, having had the paint and tires literally burnt off of them. Houses which once stood were nothing but a few stray cinder blocks and piles of ash. I remember Firetrucks were still in the streets and firemen were scattered putting out small spot fires. We saw Families literally standing in the ashes which used to be their home, broken, reduced to tears. Their earthy possessions all gone, photographs and all. Turning the corner and driving down Arkansas, it looked like some sick form of the lottery took place. Random houses were gone, Random houses still remained. There was little rhyme or reason behind who got to keep their house and who lost everything.