City Council President Scott Hente had come to grips with a harsh reality Tuesday night.
The Waldo Canyon fire had consumed the home he built 13 years ago.
Or so he thought.
“I’m sorry,” read a text from a friend, an employee of Colorado Springs Utilities, who had been in the area before the fire raced down the hillside.
It turns out his friend’s condolences were for nothing.
“Is your home still standing?” The Gazette asked Hente Friday.
Here’s what Hente said via email:
Yes it is. I have some fire damage but as a home builder I know what it will take to fix it.
While four houses across from me burned (they were very close to the open space above the Flying W Ranch) the houses on my side of the street as well as many houses that backed down from mine, are all still standing.
Tuesday night when I was talking to you, and later to the governor, I repeated what I had been told: that there was a very high probability mine was gone. I’m glad I was given wrong information.
Scott
Glad that your home is intact, Councilor. My thoughts are with your neighbors and others whom are without a home and/or still under evacuation. As one who was displaced for four days and able to return yesterday evening, I can express first-hand the appreciation that I have to you and all other public sector employees from within and outside the city who worked feverishly with the sole purpose of keeping the citizens of Colorado Springs safe and the city intact. I’m proud of this place and everyone within it.