Month after massive fire, responders honored by town and school
All first responders who helped put out the RR 316 Fire were honored at halftime at the HEM football game on Saturday.
The cake was a hit at the dinner that honored the first responders.
The last time the Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School Miners played at home over the Labor Day weekend, on September 5, there was ominous black smoke billowing into the clear blue skies.
By the time the game ended at 2:30 p.m., several planes were flying overhead dumping retardant and water to stop an out-of-control fire just a couple miles outside of town. By 5 p.m. the town had called for a mandatory evacuation and fire departments from all over the county, the state and Colorado were working well into the night to keep it away from the town and contain it. There were also private contractors who worked at the nearby wind farms that lent water trucks, blades and people.
It was a massive effort.
The RR 316 fire destroyed close to 15,000 acres and caused millions in damage, but not a structure was damaged in the town of Hanna thanks to the determination of all that were facing the flames.
On Saturday, at HEM's home football game halftime, all the responders were honored by the audience for their efforts. HEM principal Steve Priest handed out certificates of appreciation to all the fire departments and private companies that helped stop the fire.
The presentation took up almost the entire halftime because the group was so large.
A huge round of applause was given by the crowd once all honorees had been mentioned.
The town's appreciation didn't stop with just the recognition at the game.
Hanna hosted a spaghetti dinner in honor of the town's heroes and opened the Hanna Recreation Center's doors to citizens and fire responders alike.
It started at 3 p.m., but it wasn't until after the game at 4:30 p.m. that the benediction by Naomi Hitz was given. The departments from all over the state mingled with the Hanna residents while enjoying not only the pasta and salad supplied by the town, but RNB State Bank 's (RNB) desserts.
"We did the dessert because the town was going to provide all the food," Rose Vaughn, RNB Hanna branch manager, said. "We decided to do a dessert bar that would compliment the spaghetti meal because we can't thank these people enough, especially Probst Electric who helped save the town with all their water trucks and they didn't have to. We really, as a town, have to thank everybody because they are all awesome. Without them, we might not have a home."
The fire department in Hanna was not only appreciative of the spaghetti dinner, but also of the town and citizens during the fire.
"This is very nice on the town's part," said Hanna fireman Mark Kostovny. "We are very appreciative of what the town did during the fire, helping to feed people, bringing us water. It feels good to be appreciated."
Mayor Lois Buchanan thanked all the responders at the dinner.
"We have had a really decent turnout," Buchanan said. "I'm glad, because it is the smallest thing we could do to show our appreciation and gratitude for all the firefighter responders plus this was something the entire community could share in,"
Buchanan also thanked all the volunteers that pulled the dinner together.
"This what being a community is all about," Buchanan said. "Giving thanks and pulling together in gratitude for those who so honestly deserve it."
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