In October 2020, the East Troublesome fire tore across North-Central Colorado, transforming a small blaze into one of the most devastating wildfires in state history. The fire claimed two lives, scorched nearly 194,000 acres and left a lasting trauma across Grand County.  

But from the ashes, stories have emerged — told through film, literature, music, and art. These creative works not only preserve the memory of the fire but also help the community express its grief and resilience.

These creative responses to the East Troublesome Fire offer Grand County a way to remember, reflect and heal.  By sharing their stories through diverse media, authors have helped preserve the legacy of the fire while raising awareness about the ongoing risks of wildfire in the West.

Sky-Hi News encourages readers to explore these works — and share their own stories as part of the community’s journey toward recovery. 

Wild Fire (2021)

By blending music and narrative into a theatrical concert playwright, Jessica Kahkoska, wove over thirty oral histories from Colorado’s 2020 fire season. Kahkoska offered a moving tribute to those who endured through the devastating blaze and the recovery that followed. It was performed Winter Park, Dillon and Denver in 2021. These stories will become part of History Colorado’s Museum of Memory Initiative. 

A Yellow House in the Mountains (2022)

Glenn Hileman tells the story of his parent’s partnership leading up to the East Troublesome Fire. Lyle and Marylin Hileman passed away in the East Troublesome Fire at their home in Grand Lake on Oct. 21. The were the only two fatalities of the event. Hileman reflects on his parents’ steadfast marriage, the challenges they faced throughout their lives and their perseverance towards their dreams. He captures an essence of their legacy in a musical tribute to his parents A Yellow House in the Mountains.

Running Free (2024)  

Ami Cullen’s debut novel, “Running Free”, centers around the heroic evacuation of a remote dude ranch during the East Troublesome Fire. The novel tells a fictionalized recount of Cullen’s own experience as the director of equestrian operations at Granby’s C Lazy U Ranch. “Not in her wildest imagination did Emme think she would become the Head Wrangler at a dude ranch, responsible for the care and safety of 200 horses. Or did she imagine she’d be the one to save those horses from a terrible wildfire.”

Crossing the Divide (2027)

Connor Nelson’s upcoming documentary in the making aims to punctuate first-hand accounts of fast fires in the Rockies, tying the science of fires to the stories of those they impact. Nelson plans to tell firsthand accounts from Colorado’s East Troublesome Fire and Marshal Fire, and Canada’s Jasper Fire. 

“Our film ‘Crossing the Divide’ is about transitions, and the process of moving from grief and loss to understanding and action,” Nelson said.