Our neighbor Dave called to warn us about the fire at about 6 p.m. June 19, 2013. It began at the Spanish Peaks Scout Ranch, about a mile from our little handmade cabin south of Walsenburg, in the foothills of the East Spanish Peak. We had evacuated by 6:20.
The fire was ultimately named the East Peak Fire and it burned more than 13,000 acres of nearby forest. Ten homes and four outbuildings were lost, including our closest neighbors’ log home.
Thanks to the firefighters, our cabin was fine. Our mountain was not. Wildfire Today has details, photos, and maps of the fire here.