on June 1, life changed dramatically in my small, 17,000-population Colorado community. After one of the driest winters on record (beginning summer at 3% of average snowpack in the San Juan Mountains), it took but a spark to ignite what would become one of Colorado’s largest forest fires in history.

The 416 Fire devoured over 55,000 acres of U.S. National Forest and took a federal Type 1 team of 1,300 firefighters plus numerous air tankers and copters delivering water and slurry to battle it.

At my home (and home office) in Durango, at 7,500 feet just 10 miles from the blaze, we had a front-row seat to its effects—from the battleground whir of aircraft constantly flying over our house to the otherworldly, massive volcano-like plume that erupted in bluebird skies from the fire’s onset. From the despair over the demise of beautiful spaces to the fear for friends evacuated from their homes for weeks on end.

And, then there was the smoke. I have never seen anything like it. Every night—for four long weeks—thick smoke rolled into our town, choking visibility, and rendering health emergency warnings until the next afternoon asking residents to stay indoors. At its peak, the air quality registered at a level of 485 on a scale where 500 was the top measure.

I tell you this story because out of all the bad of this historic event came heart-melting good—within the community. Businesses and residents banded together to conduct food and clothing drives for the evacuated (residing at evac centers around town). They gathered wool socks and drinks for firefighters. One coffee shop offered free coffee for a day to lift spirits—and ongoing free coffee for firefighters. Other businesses offered free meals for firefighters, and the bookshop gave free books to evacuees.

Businesses of all shapes and sizes hung “Thank You Firefighters” signs on their storefronts and on massive “Thank You” walls in town brimming with kids’ signs and art.

Community unification is intensely powerful. And healing.

Living through this event brought back a poignant memory for me of standing on the West Side Highway in Manhattan on Sept. 13, 2001, with hundreds of others holding “Thank You Firefighters” signs (in the name of community and healing).

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for being a part of our community. We truly value you—our reader—and look forward to serving you and your business in the years to come.

ON OUR COVER:

Model: Corey Scott/Photogenics

Photography: Jurgen Reisch

Hair + Makeup: Prisca Wille

Fitting Optician: Rhea Aldridge of Gogosha Optique

Frames: Persol PO3206S

Erinn Morgan
Editor-in-Chief + Editorial Director
Eyecare Business