The East Troublesome Fire has been utterly devastating to the people of Colorado. Along with other blazes currently burning in the state, it has contributed to a record-breaking fire season this year. As of this weekend, The East Troublesome Fire was only about 4% contained and had spread to 188,000 acres. Now we're learning that one elderly couple who refused to leave their home died in that fire.
After evacuation warnings, Lyle and Marylin Hileman didn't want to leave their home. According to the family, several friends reached out to help them safely evacuate on Wednesday, but they refused. They had been together in their family home for decades, and it seems they had strong feelings about standing by the home they loved, whatever that meant.
It's a heart-wrenching story; however, the family remains comforted by the fact that they died together. They said, "Their only desire was to be together in the home they loved."
Lyle and Marylin Hileman died in their longtime home. Lyle was 86 and Marylin was 84. The two were married back in 1952. They later bought the home they would eventually die in. According to family, their home and property meant the world to them.
The family spoke out about what that home meant, not only to Lyle and Marylin, but to so many others in their lives. "The property become a lifelong mission to create 'heaven on earth' to which family, friends and strangers, who quickly became friends, would be drawn." It's clear that the house was much more than just a house.
Just this spring, the couple sold the property to their son Glenn. They were hoping to stay there "as long as physically possible," the family said. When the family received news that the fire was burning in the fields close to the home, they tried to convince the couple to leave. The family said they were "resolute and adamant, they would not leave."
Their son tried to call after speaking with his siblings about their decision to stay, but there was no answer. Their granddaughter began posting on Twitter about the situation. First, she asked for thoughts and prayers for their safe rescue. Then, when it became clear that the home was entirely burned, that her grandparents were also gone.
In an update, she wrote, "Confirmed from Sheriff: The home is a total loss. #EastTroublesomeFire Search and Rescue is going to see if they are still safe in their bunker… In loving memory, The Big Yellow House."
She later added that the couple was found dead in one another's arms.
The story has traveled far and wide. So many are both saddened and moved by the couple's commitment to their home. Colorado Governor Jared Polis took to Twitter to speak out about the loss. He said he was "extremely saddened" with the news. "My heart goes out to the family and friends of Lyle and Marilyn Hileman," he wrote.
While for the family, the loss is clearly devastating, they also said, "Our Lyle and Marylin did what they felt they needed to do," adding, "Our family feels comforted in the knowledge our parents left this world together and on their own terms. They leave a legacy of hard work and determination to overcome, something all in Grand County will need."
As for the home that was such a special place to the Hilemans, the family has big plans. Their granddaughter shared on Twitter that they're going to rebuild the "Big Yellow House."
She wrote, "Just this summer my Grandpa gave my dad the original plans for the home, and we are going to rebuild, just as it was, and more. They left us with so much love and memories, and we are going to build upon those with even more."
Over the weekend, Colorado saw some wet weather. That, along with major efforts by firefighters, helped to slow the spread of the East Troublesome Fire. Still, officials say that the situation will depend largely on the weather over the next several weeks.
Colorado's governor said the East Troublesome Fire was likely caused by human activity. However, it's not even the biggest fire burning in Colorado currently. The nearby Cameron Peak Fire, about 10 miles away, has burned at least 206,000 acres.
