(COLORADO SPRINGS) — A mother and daughter were left to pick through the ashes of a Banning Lewis Ranch duplex that caught fire on Sunday, March 24. While the fire left four homes uninhabitable, Kathy and Madison Rose said they are extremely grateful for the firefighters, neighbors, and strangers who stepped up to help.
Madison said she was with her boyfriend on the south side of town on Sunday when she got a call from her sister explaining that their mom’s house on Vista Del Tierra Drive was on fire. Madison said she assumed it was probably just a small fire, but immediately made her way in that direction. Once at Fillmore Street in the central part of town, she said she could already see the smoke.
“By the time I had gotten here, it had basically engulfed the entire home and it was on to the neighbor’s home,” Madison said. “Pure adrenaline, once I did get here. Obviously, there was a roadblock and, you know, I couldn’t drive through anymore… I had to physically get out and run.”
Thankfully Madison’s mom Kathy made it out safely, as well as her two dogs and a cat. A turtle had to be left behind when Kathy ran from the home, but miraculously, the turtle also survived.
One of the dogs, Nola, ran in fear from the fire, and Madison said she’s so thankful for the neighbors and Animal Law Enforcement officers who helped find Nola several miles from home and reunite her with her family.
“I’m grateful that every single person and every single animal made it out okay and alive,” Madison said. Her mom echoed the same sentiment, thanking the many people who offered support.
“We’ve gotten so much support, especially from the retreat neighbors here and the Banning Lewis Ranch neighbors, from strangers that we don’t even know,” Kathy said. From clothing donations to a meal train, Kathy said the community stepped up in ways she could never have imagined.
Two duplexes, four units in total, were left uninhabitable. Madison is now raising money, which she said would be distributed between her mom and the affected neighbors.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Kathy said she was alone at home with the animals when she heard a loud pop, and while startled, didn’t think anything of it. Then she heard crackling sounds, and when she went to look out her kitchen window, she could see flames. Before she could even make it to the back door to see what was on fire, her kitchen window exploded into the house along with the fire.
Kathy was able to make it out safely with the help of neighbors who rushed to help her and her animals.
“A lot of people stopped to help, which I’m very thankful for,” Kathy said.
Now the family is left picking through the charred remains of Kathy’s house, looking for cherished memories, mementos, and irreplaceable family heirlooms. Kathy and Madison said some family photos have been recovered, and some precious antiques may be able to be salvaged.
While many things will never be replaced, Kathy and Madison both stressed how grateful they are that their family and their neighbors are safe, and that the community and first responders stepped up when they were needed most.
“I want to thank also, all the firefighters that came, EMT, the police… They did such an amazing job, staying out here, you know in the cold and the wind that we had. So I want to thank them,” Kathy said.
