Home destroyed by fast-moving Hertha Lake Fire in Northern Colorado, "Everything is gone"
A home was destroyed in the Hertha Lake Fire in Northern Colorado. The wildfire spread across a field in high winds, burned a garage and then reached the home, which is located on Hulson Place.
"Came out of nowhere. All we could do is put our shoes on and get out the door. He didn't even have his shoe on, we had to borrow a shoe from the neighbor," said Melora Luth, whose husband Bill Brindle who is on crutches due to an ankle injury.
One of their two children was home and had to get out with them. Firefighters rescued a dog in the house. Two cats were still missing hours later.
"Everything is gone. We had three cars gone. We lost two trucks. A whole bunch of other stuff. All the kids' schools stuff, everything. Everything's gone," said Melora Luth.
All they had left was the car they used to get away from the fire and clothes on their backs.
Dramatic photos taken at the scene on Monday afternoon in Larimer County showed the house fully consumed by flames. A couple and a child escaped unharmed.
At nearby Above All Farms where they board horses they were watching carefully.
"We have five or six horse trailers lined up and we've had some people come and take some out already and so I think we've got it covered," said farm operator Jared Hanes.
The wildfire forced evacuations for part of the afternoon, but those were lifted by 4 p.m., although the fire was still putting up smoke near County Road 23, which is to the east of Carter Lake and west of downtown Berthoud. The fire, which started along County Road 8E, was 100% contained by the evening hours.
There are no reports of any injuries in the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Top wind gusts on Monday were in the vicinity of 40-50 mph. Several nearby locations saw gusts up to 80 mph funneled through the foothills. Another round of wind is expected on Tuesday.
