LITTLETON, Colo. — Hundreds of Quarry Fire evacuees are anxiously awaiting permission to return home as Jefferson County officials remain cautious about lifting evacuations. However, some residents are choosing to stay put, riding out the fire at home.
"A lot of my neighbors have regretted going out now because they can't come back in," said Jamal Haddad, a resident of the White Deer Valley neighborhood, a mandatory evacuation zone now blocked off by Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies.
Despite the mandatory evacuations, deputies cannot force people out of their homes, leaving those who stay to do so at their own risk. Haddad stayed behind because of his cat, Elizabeth, but now faces uncertainty about when he will be allowed to leave and return.
When the fire first hit Tuesday night, Haddad and his wife and two kids scrambled to pack their car and evacuate like everyone else around 11 p.m.
"We couldn't find our cat. That's what drove me back here," Haddad explained. "We couldn't find a cat in the house."
Elizabeth is considered part of Haddad’s family. At 1:30 a.m., Haddad returned to find her. The roads were not fully blocked off yet, and deputies allowed him through. However, upon reaching his house, Elizabeth was nowhere to be found.
"My intent was to go get the cat and leave… But I didn't find the cat, and so I said, you know what, I'm just not gonna go," Haddad recounted.
The rest of the night was harrowing as flames grew just a quarter-mile from his house. Haddad spent a sleepless night on the couch, setting his alarm for 30-minute intervals to check if his house was safe.
The next morning, Haddad was relieved to find Elizabeth walking in the living room and no flames outside his window. The fire had shifted north and west, away from the White Deer Valley neighborhood.
Haddad has been home alone for the past four days, witnessing the fire mitigation efforts with the front-row seats of his backyard.
"The best thing here was to sit outside and watch the planes drop the water. It was like an orchestra. It was incredible. I've never seen anything like this. Fantastic. Everybody is doing a great job," Haddad said.
When he came back to get Elizabeth, the rest of his family didn't return with him. They've been staying at a close friend's house.
"I can get out. The problem is I can't come back in, and neither can my family. That's really been the hardest thing for me. I miss my wife and kids," Haddad said, hoping for his family's swift return.
In the meantime, Haddad said he's been acting as the neighborhood housekeeper, watering plants and unplugging things for those who cannot return.
He feels safe and has not seen smoke near his house since the first day. Fortunately, his wife bought groceries before the fire, so he is stocked up on food. Haddad said a few others in the neighborhood also decided to stay.
His family is grateful he is watching the house and the cat. However, Haddad said if the fire gets close again, he will evacuate.
"If the fire starts to hit homes, I'm leaving. I'm not gonna jeopardize my life. The house can be rebuilt," he stated.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office assured residents they are working on a plan to give residents access to their homes once it is safe. In order to streamline the process when the time comes, they said all evacuees should go to the evacuation site at Dakota Ridge High School, 13399 W. Coal Mine Ave., on Saturday, Aug. 3 or Sunday, Aug. 4 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to get a resident pass for re-entry. Evacuees need to bring proof of residency to get a pass.
The evacuation center will remain open as long as there are evacuees in need. On Thursday, American Red Cross said they had 11 people stay overnight, and 60-70 people in and out throughout the day.