The Fremont County woman who lost her “dream home and ranch” west of Cañon City to the Parkdale fire on Friday thanked her neighbors for helping save her 14 Tennessee Walking horses .
Dr. Dorothy Twellman, who is the Fremont County coroner, said in a prepared statement that she was thankful for those who showed up with trailers to evacuate the horses.
“If we had not been able to save our horses, our pain would have been unbearable,” said Twellman and Diane Alvies, a nurse practitioner, who also lived at their Royal D Ranch.
The two women said they came to Colorado in 1985 after losing a rented home to fire in Kentucky.
When they bought the property in 1986, there was a small cabin, an old chicken barn and an old garage.
They lived in the cabin while the new home was built and started raising horses, beginning with the two they had brought from Kentucky.
They purchased three other horses and started raising the foals, eventually building a herd of 14.
The assistance of their neighbors and an outpouring of support has helped them to “feel the love” and “has helped us to keep putting one foot in front of the other,” they said.
The women praised Fremont County Sheriff Jim Beicker as well as the deputies and firefighters who did their best to save the home and ranch.
They said the loss of the home and ranch has been devastating.
“We’ve lost so many of our ‘treasures’ because of this fire: family photos, special jewelry, and many things that can’t be replaced,” they said. “All our documentation is gone, including professional diplomas, licenses, etc. The list is endless. Our dream home and our dream barn are gone.
“But the part that causes our deepest pain is the loss of the beauty of the land. We know that this land will not be restored in our lifetimes. That is the hardest reality to face.”
