Thread by @DavidGilbert4U

Dawn breaks at the Lafayette YMCA, where dozens of #MarshallFire evacuees spent the night. Some have left, though many still do not know the status of their homes. Most left in a hurry. Many folks in wheelchairs or with pets.

Kathy (declined to give last name), 72, is here with Rosie, her pincher-Chihuahua mix. Was headed to appointment in Superior when sky turned black and ash rained down.
"I panicked," she said. Rushed home for Rosie, neighbor told her to leave. "I had no idea where to go."

Kathy followed her neighbor to the shelter, and now awaits news on her apartment. She moved here 5 years ago from New York.
"I'm not sure I like it here. There's nothing like this back east. Too much of this climate change stuff."

Like others, she praised Red Cross staff.
"The people staying here, there's been a lot of crying, but the volunteers are so wonderful. I can't believe how fast this all came together." Rosie stayed calm, and that helps Kathy keep calm.

Victoria Gremellion, left, her neighbor Doris Channel, 85, and Doris' half-poodle mix Trina.
Victoria saw the smoke from her home in Louisville and knew it was time to evacuate. She looks after Doris and her husband Richard, and made sure they got out too.

"I was a nervous wreck" as she evacuated herself, son, two dogs, two cats, with Doris and Richard following behind. "I knew I had to push through. I tried not to think too much."
She doesn't know whether her house is still there.

She spent the night in her car with her son and all four pets. Doris and Richard stayed in the shelter, but Doris couldn't sleep. She was worried about Trina, who wouldn't eat or drink -- until just now when offered water by a victim's advocate from the sheriff's office.

Doris has lived in Louisville for all her 85 years. "I've never, ever seen anything like this. I just want to go home to my bed. I just hope it's still there."

Victoria said she doesn't feel heroic for making sure Doris and Richard got out.
"I think that's just being neighborly."

The mood here is fairly calm. Volunteers, advocates making the rounds. Donations coming in from many local businesses. Many are being cleared to return home. Those that remain are anxiously awaiting 10 a.m. press conference. Many don't feel like talking to a reporter.

Edward Shahverdian, 47, has been homeless since 2014. He came to Louisville to complete court-ordered volunteer service at a thrift store. When the fire started, he began hobbling in the other direction, slowed down by a frostbitten foot damaged by sleeping outside last year.

A school bus driver with an empty bus pulled over, urged him on board, and high-tailed it to the shelter. A silver lining: the shelter is the nicest accommodations he's had in many days, and advocates here say they may be able to connect him with better housing resources.

Racked with kidney stones, lupus and an anxiety disorder, he's extremely grateful for the shelter.
"It feels so good to be here, to see that people will help you. I'm hoping somebody here can give me a haircut."

Snow, beautiful, merciful snow begins to fall. Community members are showing up in droves asking how they can help, what they can donate. Red Cross volunteers say they are "almost overwhelmed" with assistance. Look for the helpers, folks.

Siya Lalwani, 18, was scheduled to work as a lifeguard today, but jumped at the chance to volunteer with evacuees. She's been handing out food since before dawn. She lives in south Boulder, just blocks west of the evac zone. Her family's power has been in and out since yesterday.

"This has been really scary, but people here are finding their neighbors and friends. It's hard to see people going through this, but there's so much community, so many conversations -- even laughter."

Siya, a 2020 Fairview High grad going to Cal Poly for anthropology, says this makes her think of the future. "Unfortunately climate disaster is becoming more common. It makes me want to make the world a better place. My sister is 9, she deserves a place to live too."

Red Cross spokesman John Seward, right, says 114 people spent the night at the shelter. Unknown how many will need it tonight, but current plans allow it to stay open up to 5 days. Niwot shelter will likely be consolidated here.

Seward says staff/volunteers on site include physician's assistant, mental health counselors, chaplain. Red Cross bringing in disaster case managers. "We're in it for the long run. We stay with you long after the fire is out."

Seward says they're overwhelmed by community support, but have more than enough volunteers and nowhere to store more supplies. Those who want to help should call Boulder County hotline: [phone] or donate $ at redcross.org/local/colorado…

Xcel Energy dropping off free space heaters for locals whose gas lines are still off. A woman showed up to ask for one, was told they're free, threw her arms around me. We cried in each other's arms for a long moment before she left. She was in a hurry, didn't get her name.

As others have gone home, Forrest Smith, 67, is still here. "I'm sure my home is gone," he says. He stayed in his home in Louisville so long his smoke alarms were going off. He didn't want to believe what was happening until it was almost too late.

"I watched the trees burn. My neighbor's house started going up. Finally a cop car came by and he says, 'man, you gotta go!' I've lived there 30 years. I left with the clothes on my back. The HOA dues check was on the table, but I don't know if there's any homes in the HOA left."

Smith, who retired from truck driving last year, now has no idea where he'll go or what he'll do. He has no children, no relatives nearby. He'll greet 2022 from a Red Cross cot.