TERRE HAUTE —
Lorna Taken Gutierrez and her family live in a home with “an amazing mountain view” in Colorado Springs.
But on Tuesday, the view from her home turned Armageddon-like as she saw a wildfire racing down a bluff and taking everything — including beautiful homes — in its path.
“It was a horrible thing,” said Gutierrez, a former Terre Haute and Clay County resident. “It was a tsunami of fire.”
And, the inferno was coming toward the Gutierrez home, located in Pinon Valley in the northwest part of the city — close to the devastated Mountain Shadows neighborhood.
The family had about five minutes to pack and leave — Lorna, her husband Dimas, three children and Lorna’s mother-in-law, who was visiting from Venezuela. They also took their dog.
As of Wednesday afternoon, they were en route to Clay County to be with family. Gutierrez didn’t know if their Colorado Springs home had been spared — or destroyed. “We’ve had conflicting reports,” she said Wednesday afternoon. “No one can get there.”
There was also the possibility that her husband’s place of employment had burned. He is a software engineer.
“My heart is broken,” Gutierrez wrote on her Facebook page. They have lived in Colorado Springs for about seven years.
“I’ve alternated between tears and relief that we are out” and safe, she said in a telephone interview Wednesday. “I’m crying for everyone who has lost everything and praying that no one has lost their life.”
Before the family left Colorado Springs, they went to the east side of town to eat. As they looked toward the west and the area they had just fled, “Fire was everywhere and smoke and ash,” she said. They could see the fire spread and “these gorgeous houses being wiped out.”
The family lives on the outskirts of Colorado Springs, with Garden of the Gods to the south and the U.S. Air Force Academy to the north.
One reason they decided to leave was because the “air quality is terrible” — the result of all the smoke. They were concerned about the health of the family, which includes two young children, Adriana, age 4 and Eli, 21 months. Eli had respiratory problems when he was younger.
Gutierrez’ husband left work early Tuesday. “He could feel the wind picking up and he had a feeling we would have to evacuate,” she said. On Tuesday, wind gusts reached 65 mph, causing the fires to rage out of control.
For now, the future for the Gutierrez family is somewhat uncertain. “I don’t know what we will do. I don’t know if we can go back or if we have a place to go back to,” she said. They were in the process of selling their home and purchasing a new one in the same area.
If necessary, her husband could transfer out-of-state.
But they really like Colorado Springs and hope to return. “It is a beautiful city,” said Gutierrez, a former Tribune-Star reporter and Indiana State University student.
Gutierrez has maintained close contact with her mother, Becky Taken, of Brazil. “It’s been a nightmare,” said Taken, who eagerly awaited her family’s safe arrival.
The Gutierrez’ house is about six miles east of Waldo Canyon, where one official on Tuesday night described the wildfire as “a firestorm of epic proportions,” according to one media report.
The Waldo Canyon fire had forced more than 32,000 people out of their homes and destroyed an unknown number of structures. By Wednesday, the fire had grown to more than 15,000 acres.
President Barack Obama is expected to visit the devastated city Friday.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
News
Related Videos
Related Photos
-
This photo by Lorna Gutierrez was taken as she fled the wildfires bearing down on her Colorado home.
Discussion
VIDEO: ‘A firestorm of epic proportions’
Ex-Valley resident driven from home by wildfire
- News
-
-
Back home again: Items from vaudeville stage and Terre Haute native sent to Historical Society
The staff at the Vigo County Historical Museum are excited about the arrival of priceless items used by Terre Haute-native Rose Fehrenbach and her husband, Edward Pierce, to promote their Vaudeville acts in the early 20th century.
-
Husband charged in Archer homicide
Terre Haute Police have found local reports of domestic violence between a Terre Haute man and his wife, whose body was discovered wrapped in a tarp and dumped in an Ohio ditch.
-
National Road panels dedicated
Rewind to the mid-1800s, when the trotting of a horse and buggy on National Road could be heard alongside the voices of people heading west, searching for opportunities.
-
Pence sets agency priorities
Following a directive from Gov. Mike Pence, state agency heads are reorganizing some of their top priorities to better reflect the first-year governor’s “roadmap for Indiana” plan for improving the state’s economy, infrastructure and health.
-
Another I-70 traffic snarl: Three injured in two related crashes
Three people were injured Monday afternoon from a pair of crashes on Interstate 70 that temporarily closed the highway and diverted traffic into Terre Haute.
-
Terre Haute man still hospitalized after scooter/car crash
A Terre Haute man remained hospitalized Monday at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after his scooter struck a car early Saturday on Wabash Avenue at 25th Street.
-
Overpass repairs causing Interstate 70 lane restrictions
Repairs to the Frye Road overpass in southeastern Vigo County has caused a restriction to the left lane of Interstate 70 between the 13- and 14-mile markers, about two miles east of the Indiana 46 exit.
-
Indiana woman condemned for killing at 15 is freed
A woman who was sentenced to death at age 16 for taking part in the torture and murder of a 78-year-old Bible studies teacher was released from an Indiana prison Monday after growing to middle age behind bars.
-
Grant will let Vigo Library evaluate map collection
The Vigo County Public Library has received a $2,000 grant to evaluate its historic map collection, a library official announced Monday.
-
Four juveniles caught on elementary school roof; one injured jumping off
Police say a juvenile was lucky to have suffered only a broken leg after jumping from the roof of a Vigo County elementary school – dropping about 30 feet to the ground.
-
Farmersburg man sentenced after guilty plea in rape case
A Farmersburg man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to a rape that occurred at his parents’ residence in May 2012.
-
Still no information being released on Rosedale homicide
No new information was being released Monday afternoon concerning a Rosedale homicide.
-
Fathers take time out to spend quality time with children, grandchildren
A big, circular white cloud rose up through the tall atrium as Mike Woods held his 4-year son, Nathan, Sunday at the Terre Haute Children’s Museum.
-
On Friday, hit the park and raise funds for skateboarders
The On-board United Initiative — O.U.I. for short — has scheduled an all-ages fundraising event Friday in honor of national Go Skateboarding Day.
-
STATE OF THE STATEHOUSE: Sentencing law could benefit juveniles
Monica Foster is a longtime public defender who’s been pushing uphill in the legal system for a long time. So, when she says the General Assembly is making progress protecting the rights of the disenfranchised, it’s worth stopping to listen to her.
-
Mastering the art of Gardening
The Wabash Valley Master Gardeners group gathered over the weekend to marvel at each other’s gardens on its annual garden tour. The event was a chance for master gardeners to showcase their labor of love, meanwhile sharing stories about their plants.
-
RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: June 17, 2013
The Vigo County Health Department inspected the following food establishments May 28-31:
-
Lawn mower fire destroys barn
A lawn mower that caught fire was cited as the cause of a fire that destroyed a single story barn Sunday in the 2000 block of North Chamberlain Street, said Harold Osborn, assistant fire chief of the Lost Creek Township Fire Department.
-
Wabash Valley residents vie for spot on Wheel of Fortune
Ellen Fujawa of Zionsville wants to be on the popular syndicated Wheel of Fortune game show.
-
No ID yet on body found in Rosedale home
Sheriff Mike Eslinger said his department is waiting to obtain an immediate family’s confirmation of a woman found dead in a home in the 2900 block of West Rosehill Lane.
-
Vigo School Corp. eliminating bus transportation for middle school sports teams
The Vigo County School Corp. will no longer provide school bus transportation for middle school athletic events, starting with the 2013-14 school year.
-
B.J. RILEY: Fathers are an inspiring figure
Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a salesman. In grade school, I was so excited about selling candy bars or candles or whatever the chosen product.
-
‘24/7 Dad’ program focuses on key fathering characteristics
Terre Haute resident Aaron Poarch grew up without a father. His stepfather died when he was a teenager and just quite recently met his biological father.
-
Blues mosaic fundraiser to benefit Boys & Girls Club
A photographic mosaic, featuring images of the Blues at the Crossroads Festival from 2004 to 2012, was unveiled Saturday as part of a fundraiser to benefit the Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club.
-
Meeting June 18 to discuss cleanup of former Coke, Carbon site
The public can learn more about plans to clean up the former Terre Haute Coke and Carbon brownfield site Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Booker T. Washington Community Center
-
South Vigo Jets teams raising money for trip
The Terre Haute South Vigo Jets Varsity A and Junior Varsity B teams have qualified for national competition and are working to raise funds to help cover expenses.
-
United in Service: 300 volunteers take part in United Way’s Day of Action
As a graphic designer for Clabber Girl, Denise Turner usually sits in front of the computer most of the week. But as a volunteer on Friday’s Day of Action, she was outdoors spreading mulch at a community garden.
-
Police investigating Rosedale homicide
Parke County authorities are investigating a homicide at Rosedale.
Sheriff Mike Eslinger confirmed Friday afternoon that police had been called to a home in the 2900 block of West Rosehill Lane on a report of a dead person. -
Homicide suspect’s father: ‘I am so sorry’
The father of a Jasonville man charged with murder broke down in tears following his son’s appearance in Greene Superior Court on Friday morning.
-
African Methodist Episcopal Church reaches out to youth through Sunday School
How to make church relevant for today’s young people is a challenge that some dedicated pastors and youth ministers are willingly taking on this weekend in Terre Haute.
- More News Headlines
-
Robot Action Connected to Human Thought
Tiger on Sergio: 'It's Time to Move On'
Obama: US Has Helped Syrian Rebels
California Cops Cruise on Stand-up Paddle Patrol
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
Man Who Disrupted Flight Ranted About CIA
Feds: 7-Eleven Stores Exploited Immigrants
Rain Damages Brazil Soccer Stadium
Transgender Candidate Running in NYC
Raw: 100K Protesters Flood Brazilian Streets
Afghan Forces Take Afghanistan Security Lead
Falling Cable Hurts 10 NASCAR Fans
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
NYC 911 Call Lasts for 8 Hours
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
Today in History June 18
Raw: NASCAR Driver Jason Leffler Dies in Wreck
Iran's Rowhani Urges 'Path of Moderation'
Raw: Prince Philip Leaves Hospital After Surgery
Oklahoma City Thunder Players Tour Moore
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
Sofia Vergara Posts Perky Backside Pic in Thong
Gaga Ditches Her Crazy Couture
Caught on Tape: Teacher Accused of Beating Autistic Child
"Stay Classy" Campaign Aims to Curb Binge Drinking
Sesame Street Tackling Tough Topic Parents in Jail
Miss Utah Fumbles Interview Question
Deranged man claims Newark-bound flight was poisoned
Cameron Diaz and Kate Upton Show Off Their Amazing Bikini Bodies
NBA FINALS: Spurs Win Game 5, Lead Series
Exclusive Clip: Jodi Arias: 'Dirty Little Secret'
Amphibious bus filled with tourists sinks
