Massive wildfires raged through the Front Range on December 30, causing incredible devastation in parts of Superior and Louisville. According to the Boulder County Sheriff’s office, 580 structures have been destroyed. As crews continue to assess the damage, the number of homes and businesses destroyed will continue to rise. Fires and hot spots continue Friday morning.

Avista Adventist Hospital was evacuated Thursday afternoon as the fires closed in.

“All patients were safely transferred to two of our sister facilities within Centura, Longmont United Hospital and St. Anthony North, and some were discharged from the hospital. All associates at this time have also been evacuated,” the hospital said on its Facebook page.

According to a 9News reporter who was providing updates from the hospital parking lot Thursday night, the fire reached the edge of the parking lot; however, first responders made a stand and were able to prevent the hospital from catching fire.

Several Rocky Mountain Conference members and families live in the areas affected by the wildfires and were forced out of their homes, some with very little notice. They, like tens of thousands of individuals, are waiting to see if their homes were destroyed.

Informing Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director, late Thursday evening, Jay Murdoch, Boulder Adventist Church associate pastor, reported, “Everyone in the Boulder Church has been accounted for and is safe. There are two families that evacuated whose homes are close to where the fire was. They are not sure if their homes have been impacted by the fire.”

Twin Peaks Adventist Church was also in an evacuation zone; however, as of late Thursday afternoon, Pastor Tim Jones informed Mallory that the church was to the north of the fire and is currently safe.

Mallory, commenting on behalf of the RMC, said, “Our hearts ache for those affected by the wildfires, and I want to ask all to keep this matter in prayer.”

Campion Academy has opened its gym as an emergency shelter for RMC families who are not able to return to their homes due to standing evacuation orders. Don Reeder, Campion principal, said pets are welcome and COVID protocols are in effect in the gym. If you are in need of this shelter, please contact Reeder at 970-443-3432.

Adventist Community Services is on standby, waiting to hear from Boulder County officials on where they can assist the community in this tragedy. Material donations will be accepted for the families in the coming days, and a list of needs and locations to drop off donations will be announced.

If you wish to donate to Adventist Community Services disaster response, please use the AdventistGiving app and mark the online tithe envelope “ACSDR.”

https://www.rmcsda.org/wildfires-destroys-large-parts-of-superior-and-louisville/