Team Schriever helps own displaced due to wildfire

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Patrice Clarke
  • 50th SW
SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  The Waldo Canyon fire started June 23. Three days later, high winds coupled with Colorado Springs' record heat contributed to the fire tripling in size and forcing more than 30,000 Colorado Springs residents to evacuate their homes.

More than 50 of those evacuees were Team Schriever members. Master Sgt. Ryan Devine, the first sergeant for the 4th Space Operations Squadron, was one of the residents evacuated from the U.S. Air Force Academy June 26.

"I was driving home through thick black smoke at about 5 p.m. Tuesday," said Devine. "I became more and more concerned about my safety and the safety of my family. As I got to the Academy, it was very clear that the mountains southwest of the Academy were on fire. I had never seen anything like that. I had never seen a fire react the way that it did."

Devine and his wife had already started getting things together in preparation.

"We had already packed things like photo albums, my wife's wedding dress, the kids bedding and things that they are really attached to," said Devine. "My son has a stuffed wolf, Wolfie, which we brought with us. My son runs around with it all the time and we didn't want to forget it. We also packed our files with receipts, tax records and important papers."

While driving home, Devine called Capt. Brandon Wilson, 4th Space Operations Squadron, to see if he and his family could stay with them.

"The Wilson's have three young children like I do and I thought that it might be a good situation with our children," said Devine.

At 8:45 p.m., Devine, his family and their small dog received the mandatory evacuation order and headed to the Wilson's.

Moving an entire family into a house with another entire family comes with challenges, but both Devine and Wilson commented on its seamlessness.

"I think it was hardest on the Devine's dog," said Wilson. "My children just won't stop bugging that dog. All joking aside, our two families have just blended together very well."

The children were a big concern for both families.

"Most importantly I stressed to my kids that natural disasters are very common everywhere," said Devine. "I tried to keep them calm and ensured them that Mommy and Daddy are doing everything to ensure their safety. We were glued to the television the first couple of days and realized that the children were as well and that was making them very anxious."

Wilson's children are younger than Devine's and had a different outlook on the whole experience.

"They think it's a giant slumber party; particularly my four-year old who for the first time got to sleep with mom and dad," said Wilson. "And now we have a dog. Our kids luckily love having others over so it's been a good time."

First Lt. Nathaniel Burk, 4 SOPS, had little time to pull things together before he, along with his wife, baby and two cats, had to evacuate his Centennial apartment in Colorado Springs. His friend and coworker, 1st Lt. Justin Brown, offered up his place just in case Burk had to evacuate.

Burk hadn't heard anything regarding an evacuation before leaving work June 26 but as he neared his apartment he knew evacuation was the only option.

"I could just see the smoke billowing off the mountain as I drove home," said Burk. "When I finally arrived home, everyone was already evacuating. I ran inside and my wife and I just started to take whatever important stuff we could grab, I put it in my little Mustang and got out of the neighborhood."

Brown was working a swing shift and saw the fire erupt on the news and immediately called his wife to find out about the Burks and was assured that they were already at his house.

The support from the entire squadron and the base is what's stood out to Burk.

"They had a crib for us," said Burk. "They went to the Airman and Family Readiness Center and checked out a crib for the baby. We've had members of 4 SOPS offer baby supplies, gift cards ... just everything. From the leadership to my supervisors, everyone has just been amazing."

Devine echoed the sentiment.

"Thank you doesn't nearly say or is able to express the gratitude I feel to Captain Wilson and his wife Kim," said Devine. "They have taken us into their homes and treated us like a part of their family. I will feel like I owe these people for the rest of my life, not for just taking care of me but for my whole family. How do you repay that?"

For Brown and Wilson, payment isn't needed because family helps family; including the Air Force family.

"I would expect him to do the same thing for me," said Brown. "It's easy, we are friends, we are co-workers I would do it again. There really isn't anything that I would change."