Boulder County Fires

Being a Boulder County resident for many years, my heart goes out to those affected by these recent fires. So sad to see this. 

Jon Welchans wrote:

Maybe we can start a mp donation thread/page for those affected by this.

The losses from this won't be truly realized until the insurance payouts (that will come up short) are complete, as well as the time it will take to get them. Also, with an already tight housing market, and the loss of a lot of homes, where will these people go in the meantime. Not to mention the poor renters who will most definitely get the short end of the stick,

Anyway, I'm got stuff to donate to the cause.

it would definitely suck to be going through this and losing your home. that said, it's really hard for me to justify donating to someone losing their house in boulder county. median home price in boulder county is something like 700k while the average in the united states is around 400k. so if they sold their burnt lot and took their insurance payout, they could live nearly anywhere in the country they wanted. 

renters are getting screwed because they have to find a new place but they aren't taking a financial hit.

this is not the ghetto. people here have money. donating for the sake of someone buying a new house in boulder or being able to build again would only drive local prices up further and push out those who don't get a donation. charity in the form of a place to stay while sorting through this makes more sense.

i hope everyone finds a roof to get under. 

I have two friends that live in superior. At 1 PM one friend notified me she was being evacuated. By 5 PM she told me her entire neighborhood was gone, not just her house, the entire fucking neighborhood. She is a very hard-working mom with kids in college. She picks up extra shifts to help pay for that. She now has nothing but the clothes on her back. All of her material things gone, all of her climbing gear gone. Yes these things can be replaced. But, imagine looking around your home right now, four hours later everything reduced to a pile of ash.

Donations are definitely needed.  Not to rebuild their homes but for the very basic day-to-day stuff. These people don’t even have a bowl to put dog food in if they even have dog food.  Which they don’t.

Please be respectful for the tremendous loss these people are going through.

Lots of immediate needs for these people.  Here are some ways you can help:

https://kdvr.com/news/local/how-to-help-with-the-boulder-county-wildfires/

Trevor stuartwrote:

it would definitely suck to be going through this and losing your home. that said, it's really hard for me to justify donating to someone losing their house in boulder county. median home price in boulder county is something like 700k while the average in the united states is around 400k. so if they sold their burnt lot and took their insurance payout, they could live nearly anywhere in the country they wanted. 

renters are getting screwed because they have to find a new place but they aren't taking a financial hit.

this is not the ghetto. people here have money. donating for the sake of someone buying a new house in boulder or being able to build again would only drive local prices up further and push out those who don't get a donation. charity in the form of a place to stay while sorting through this makes more sense.

i hope everyone finds a roof to get under. 

Donate or not: it's a personal choice dude.

This is the dumbest post I have seen here in a long time. A substantial portion of our community just got burned down in a couple of minutes. Nobody woke up on Thursday morning having an idea that by mid afternoon they would have lost everything. My family has friends who are waking up today, Friday, knowing they lost it all, and other friends who don't yet know. That includes both homeowners and renters. To bring up the high cost of living in Boulder county amidst this tragedy, as if it has anything to do with friends who just watched their life savings go up in flames shows what a clueless, young, entitled  person you are. My goodness! Have some compassion for your fellow human beings, and get some life experience. You are obviously sorely lacking it.

And if like many young folks you're just here for the recreation or to go to school, maybe someday you'll know what it's like to put down in one place and actually be a part of a community. Many of those "rich folks" you seem to have no compassion for have committed to living here and raising families. What have you done in your life to contribute to a community, other than online dribble such as your comments??

Love the irony when Boulder haters speak about materialism.

Insane fire - always felt safe from wildfires living in the ‘burbs - new reality.  I might buy a firehose.

James Wwrote:

Love the irony when Boulder haters speak about materialism.

Insane fire - always felt safe from wildfires living in the ‘burbs - new reality.  I might buy a firehose.

Entire fire departments aren't enough hoses for this type of disaster. Football field sized movement in moments, is not what our infrastructure can manage.

ANY community in the west, has this as a possibility. It's largely pure blind luck, who is hit....and who isn't, in big wind fire events.

Stay humble, grateful, and kind, people.

My heart goes out to the whole community. This is terrifying and devastating, even if it was not your home that burned.

Best, Helen

Alright guys I must be too dumb, young, snot-nosed, un compassionate, and Asperger to understand the importance of material goods. I’ve never contributed anything to any community because I haven’t produced enough material items to be considered a productive member of society.

Not sure how my previous post can be interpreted as mean spirited. The message was simple: help people get a roof under their head instead dollars in their wallet. But this is American culture at its finest and I clearly hit some nerves with people who expect their handouts. 

Kinda blows my mind that an example of how handouts fail the little guy has occurred so recently: the pandemic. We must be headed to some form of communism if this is how the average person thinks in this country.

Trevor stuartwrote:

it would definitely suck to be going through this and losing your home. that said, it's really hard for me to justify donating to someone losing their house in boulder county. median home price in boulder county is something like 700k while the average in the united states is around 400k. so if they sold their burnt lot and took their insurance payout, they could live nearly anywhere in the country they wanted. 

renters are getting screwed because they have to find a new place but they aren't taking a financial hit.

this is not the ghetto. people here have money. donating for the sake of someone buying a new house in boulder or being able to build again would only drive local prices up further and push out those who don't get a donation. charity in the form of a place to stay while sorting through this makes more sense.

i hope everyone finds a roof to get under. 

Trevor, 

I understand the knee-jerk reaction you had, thinking that based on the area code someone lives in they can financially absorb a total loss like this.  I mean, it's a stupid thought, but I understand it.  To actually come out in a public forum the day after 500+ homes burned to the ground, and say it though, well, that makes you come across as entitled, uneducated, heartless, brash, and basically a moronic douche.  Of course, no judgement from me.  I'm sure you're a decent guy who just hasn't had any experience with anything like this.  I'm sure you think just because someone's home appraises for $700k in 2021, that the insurance company just cuts you a check for $700k.  That would be nice, but unfortunately not how it works.

I was displaced from my home by a fire in March of 2020.  It didn't burn to the ground, like all of these people's homes, but the building was uninhabitable.  It's only in the last two weeks that I've been allowed to move back in.  That's almost two years not being home.  Colorado, thank God, has a law that your home insurance has to pay for your housing for 1 year no matter the amount of "loss of use" coverage you have.  After that, you need to pay rent to live somewhere.  Meanwhile Trevor, your mortgage did not go up in flames.  You still have to pay your mortgage, and now pay rent to live somewhere.

While I'm sure there were a few lucky folks who had their homes paid off, and had tons of insurance, that is likely an extremely small number.  Most of these people will now be paying a mortgage on a pile of rumble.  Their homes will not be rebuilt within the year, and after that they will be paying rent and a mortgage.  Not to mention the loss of everything they own.  For the vast majority of these folks this will be financially devastating.  

What a fund can help with is getting people some clothes if they were not able to grab enough, buying groceries for the next few days, replacing medications, and any other short term expenses that no one plans for.

Trevor, I truly hope you never have to experience anything like this, but God forbid you do, I hope people show you kindness.

On a side note, do you happen to own a Che Guevara T-Shirt, and a Macbook Pro?

Homeowners in Paradise, CA are still fighting for their insurance payouts years after their community was razed. Hyper-litigious insurances companies will do everything in their power to defer, delay and short your payout. Can you itemize every possession you owned after they’ve been incinerated? Sounds like you’ll be buying everything you own, again, without insurance compensating you for it. Thinking these people will get a check for a new house in hand next week is delusional, even if the housing stock existed to begin with.

Statewide mandated firesafe home construction  standards are the answer. The taxpayer flips the bill for endless wildland urban interface fire mitigation, pays for the public utility and insurance company bailouts with they default, pays for the disaster relief for thousands of people. Public lands can’t and shouldn’t serve to act as firebreaks for the vulnerable, combustible communities they’re intended to protect.

Trevor stuartwrote:

it would definitely suck to be going through this and losing your home. that said, it's really hard for me to justify donating to someone losing their house in boulder county. median home price in boulder county is something like 700k while the average in the united states is around 400k. so if they sold their burnt lot and took their insurance payout, they could live nearly anywhere in the country they wanted. 

renters are getting screwed because they have to find a new place but they aren't taking a financial hit.

this is not the ghetto. people here have money. donating for the sake of someone buying a new house in boulder or being able to build again would only drive local prices up further and push out those who don't get a donation. charity in the form of a place to stay while sorting through this makes more sense.

i hope everyone finds a roof to get under. 

You’re a moron.  Don’t donate, there’s no problem with that, but maybe keep your stupid thoughts to yourself.  

Evan Gerrywrote:

Statewide mandated firesafe home construction  standards are the answer. The taxpayer flips the bill for endless wildland urban interface fire mitigation, pays for the public utility and insurance company bailouts with they default, pays for the disaster relief for thousands of people. Public lands can’t and shouldn’t serve to act as firebreaks for the vulnerable, combustible communities they’re intended to protect.

Yes. And actual change in human practices effecting global warming

Trevor stuartwrote:

Yes. And actual change in human practices effecting global warming

Not gonna happen, we are locked in to continued warming and climate change, without massive and substantial geoengineering efforts this is the new normal and only the beginning. 

The tiny town of Marshall mostly burned to the ground last night.  I was there as long as I could trying to put out spot fires and keep our house from burning .  The house might have made it thru the night.

Trevor, you would do well to stop now. You’re showing yourself to be a clueless, snot-nosed little brat. Not a good look anywhere son.

Trevor stuartwrote:

Alright guys I must be too dumb and young to understand the importance of material goods. I’ve never contributed anything to any community because I haven’t produced enough material items to be considered a productive member of society.

Not sure how my previous post can be interpreted as mean spirited. The message was simple: help people get a roof under their head instead dollars in their wallet. But this is American culture at its finest and I clearly hit some nerves with people who expect their handouts. 

Kinda blows my mind that an example of how handouts fail the little guy has occurred so recently: the pandemic. We must be headed to some form of communism if this is how the average person thinks in this country.

At 32 you should be old enough to understand how insensitive your comments are. You are here trying to act like the smartest guy in the room by referring to income inequality when the issue is the basic humanity of trying to help people who just lost literally everything. Go see a therapist about being on the asperger's spectrum, as they can help you see why you are getting flamed here in case you still don't get it.

Trevor stuartwrote:

Alright guys I must be too dumb, young, snot-nosed, un compassionate, and Asperger to understand the importance of material goods. I’ve never contributed anything to any community because I haven’t produced enough material items to be considered a productive member of society.

Not sure how my previous post can be interpreted as mean spirited. The message was simple: help people get a roof under their head instead dollars in their wallet. But this is American culture at its finest and I clearly hit some nerves with people who expect their handouts. 

Kinda blows my mind that an example of how handouts fail the little guy has occurred so recently: the pandemic. We must be headed to some form of communism if this is how the average person thinks in this country.

You are too dumb. What good does a roof under your head do for you? That's exactly what these people have now, their roof in ashes on the ground. 

Renters had no financial loss? Really? 

If you're gonna be a jerk at least get it right.

Trevor stuartwrote:

Alright guys I must be too dumb, young, snot-nosed, un compassionate, and Asperger to understand the importance of material goods. I’ve never contributed anything to any community because I haven’t produced enough material items to be considered a productive member of society.

Not sure how my previous post can be interpreted as mean spirited. The message was simple: help people get a roof under their head instead dollars in their wallet. But this is American culture at its finest and I clearly hit some nerves with people who expect their handouts. 

Kinda blows my mind that an example of how handouts fail the little guy has occurred so recently: the pandemic. We must be headed to some form of communism if this is how the average person thinks in this country.

I'll assume that's a "yes" on the Che Guevara T-shirt then...

Trevor take a good look at this video and ask yourself how you would feel if you owned one of those houses that are still smoldering/burning right now. Because what you wrote besides being uninformed regarding insurance, disaster relief etc. was oblivious to reality as lived by most people. Ordinary people lost literally everything. They're not getting it back.

Get down off that edge and get real. This is a huge fcking deal that will affect the region for decades.

Louisville, Co First light shows destruction from Marshall Fire- Drone 4k

https://youtu.be/dgP0_9q6VqY

Peter Bealwrote:

Trevor take a good look at this video and ask yourself how you would feel if you owned one of those houses that are still smoldering/burning right now. Because what you wrote besides being uninformed regarding insurance, disaster relief etc. was oblivious to reality as lived by most people. Ordinary people lost literally everything. They're not getting it back.

Get down off that edge and get real. This is a huge fcking deal that will affect the region for decades.

Louisville, Co First light shows destruction from Marshall Fire- Drone 4k

https://youtu.be/dgP0_9q6VqY

I think I’ve got a decent grasp on what it’s like to suffer hardship. This past month I nearly lost my life. I did lose my health. I put myself into 100k of medical debt without a job. I’m moving on and getting a job that I’m physically capable of in my current situation. I lost the thing I love. Climbing. Kinda makes all these burnt up items look a bit unimportant to me.

I don’t own a house but I can imagine my vehicle lighting fire. Unfortunately I wouldn’t have any financial recourse because the ground my vehicle stands on couldn’t be sold(even with a mortgage) to recoup losses.

Before rod changed his post to a Che comment he did have some valid points I hadn’t considered. So I do see how some could be in some financial hardship and would need help. At the same time I don’t see the majority suffering like this. If you didn’t buy your house in the last few years, your property alone will cover you if you can’t foot the bills. For those who had too much shit to evacuate it all in time, I don’t feel for you. You have too much shit. 

For the many posters who simply resort to insulting me without any explanation as to your view point. Keep on wasting your time. Idgaf

$10,000,000.00 or $10,000.00. The value of the home is irrelevant. People still lost everything they had in a matter of minutes. Be kind. 

If you want to make the argument that there are people in the world suffering worse than homeowners in Boulder, make it elsewhere. Whether that point is valid or not; this is not the time nor the place for that debate.

If anyone in Superior or Louisville needs a place to stay, a meal, or anything else, don’t hesitate to message me.