| Updated: 8/08/2012 9:13 am |
Published: 8/07/2012 10:13 pm
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One year ago Tuesday, dozens of homes were destroyed and two people died in the Pawnee County wildfires.
A valley of fire near Terlton, unstoppable and out of control.
Many refused to leave and fighting the flames on their own and volunteer fire fighters worked around the clock to stop the flames on the ten thousand acres that were burned.
"I've seen the reality of it. I've been like my brother, to refuse to leave. I see the need to leave now,” said Frank Edgar.
He lost his brother, Hollis, in the 2011 Terlton fires.
FEMA did not declare it a disaster and many families are still struggling to rebuild.
Homes burned to the ground, piles of ash of charred debris and foundations from homes are abandoned in Pawnee County.
"I can still see the place all black," said Dannie Reed.
He lost his garage, wood shop and apartment he built.
Someone donated a trailer after the fire.
A year later he still thinks about packing up and leaving the debris behind.
Reed said he’s invested too much heart into his property.
"I lost a lot of money in the fire and now I’m down to nothing and I am trying to scrape through,” said Reed.
However, on top of Benight Road you see the acres that were burned and charred trees and debris from homes. Those items can be replaced and trees can grow back but lives cannot.
"He sprayed water all day, all afternoon. I imagine he was tired and worn out and then laid down to take a nap and the high wind came," said Edgar.
His brother Hollis Edgar, a Korean Air Force veteran, died in the Terlton fires.
"I figured he rented a car and went but we found him in there. He didn't go,” said Edgar.
Just last week he brought up his brother in his Sunday school lesson.
"Talked about God's fiery indignation, crossed my mind. I think about him every time I hear of a fire,” said Edgar.
He said he will never give up and hope of rebuilding.
"Everyone has hope. That's what anyone has is hope for the future. The good Lord will give us one house, he will give us another one,” said Edgar.
