(TELLER COUNTY, Colo.) — As evacuations were ordered for the Highland Lake Fire in Teller County near Divide, several community members rushed to get their belongings together, check on loved ones, and rescue their animals.
On County Road 51 in Divide, it was bumper-to-bumper traffic and FOX21’s crew on scene was able to speak with one evacuee, Natalie Begnaud, who described the stressful situation. At the time, she was trying to get home to care for her 14 animals including llamas and alpacas, and her family’s dogs.
“I can’t get in to help them get out, so we’re concerned about their safety,” she told FOX21. “It’s just very scary… we haven’t been able to evacuate anything.”
Begnaud said that although the traffic was frustrating, she understood that everyone was just trying to take care of their families.
“It’s very hectic and people are trying to evacuate their horses,” she explained. “There are a lot of animals out in this neck of the woods and so everyone is frantically worried about, not just their homes, but their animals and obviously, human life.”
Begnaud said the fire started out very small and her family received the alerts early, but never thought it would progress to what it is now.
“The fire is spreading,” she continued. “And, since I can’t get in, I am going to go down the road and I guess, hope for the best; I can’t get in to do any kind of help.”
And, as many others feel too, the fear of the unknown is frightening.
“I’m pretty much freaking out,” she said. “I’m nervous, scared, and you always hear about this happening to other people but you really don’t think it going to happen to you and it’s just devastating.”
