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Doug and Terrie Ideker had just minutes to gather their things when they were forced to leave their home Tuesday night.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — On Thursday, JeffCo officials said they are nowhere close to lifting the Quarry Fire mandatory evacuations. Evacuees who left their homes in the middle of the night in a matter of minutes are now trying to figure out longer-term plans.
Mandatory evacuations were put in place for nearly 600 homes after the Quarry Fire flared up Tuesday night. That night, Doug and Terrie Ideker saw the fire a quarter-mile away creeping on the ridge just above their home in the White Deer Valley neighborhood.
JeffCo Sheriff’s deputies knocked on the Idekers’ door around 1:15 a.m. Seeing the flames so close to their home, they grabbed their laptops and phones and left. Having dealt with fire evacuations in the past, they’d never had to leave for longer than 24 hours, so they assumed they would be back soon.
“When I answered the door and the sheriff said we’re going door to door, we’re evacuating the neighborhood, we want you out in 15 minutes, you really don’t have time to think about much,” Doug said that night at 2:30 a.m. when he first spoke with 9NEWS at the evacuation center at Dakota Ridge High School.
That night, Doug had on blue jeans and a polo, and Terrie was wearing a tennis skirt and a t-shirt.
On Thursday, 9NEWS met up with Doug and Terrie at a hotel.
“Well, I’m still in the same jeans,” Doug said. “And I’m still in the same skirt,” Terrie said with a laugh.
The Idekers have been staying at a hotel for the past two nights. They got word that the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was letting people into their neighborhood for an hour so people could pick stuff up, but they found out they were only letting in people who needed essential medications.
“So now as days go by… who knows when, we’ll be able to go back, so we need to go shopping for some clothing and things like that,” Terrie said.
Despite the frustrating situation, the Idekers know things could be much worse, and are tearfully grateful for the first responders who have made sure everyone is safe.
“These are heroes that are going in. Watching the dedication of the people that are involved in trying to get those fires put out… Their number one priority is saving lives. It’s just amazing to watch,” said Doug.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Mark Techmeyer, director of public affairs for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said this fire has proven to be one of the most challenging firefights in his tenure.
“We are in for a long battle with this fire,” said Techmeyer.
The Idekers said they are in contact with neighbors who decided to stay in their homes despite the mandatory evacuation. As of Thursday, they reported that their homes are safe, and the fire is spreading in a different direction away from their homes.
The Idekers said they have family in the area whom they will now be staying with.
“We’ll just wait it out and whenever it’s time to go we’ll go… we’re extremely grateful for all the support we have received,” said Terrie.
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