ELBERT COUNTY, Colo. – A unique group of volunteers have been in Elbert County helping homeowners whose homes were destroyed in the Forest Ridge Fire on March 4 in the Town of Kiowa, southeast of Denver.
Team Rubicon is a national disaster response team made up of mostly war veterans. First responders and civilians also volunteer.
A team of about 30 people were called out to Kiowa after the grass fire to help clear debris from the four homes destroyed by the flames. One of those homes belonged to Tim Parlove. He was at his property when Denver7 showed up to do a story. He said he hasn't had time to even look back on what happened to his home.
"I still haven’t responded to it. When things are taken care of, when things are done, then I’ll take care of that. There’s just too much to do right now."
Parlove is certainly grateful for Team Rubicon.
"It's amazing what they have accomplished in so little time."
Veteran Bruce Verde says helping people who are victims of disasters is therapy for him.
"You come out of this being a first responder. You're used to helping people out and reacting to dangerous things," he said. "It puts you back in that environment."
Another veteran, Nicka Hermes, is from Colorado and jumped at the chance of helping a fellow neighbor who needed it.
"At the end of the day when things go down, we come together - no questions asked," she said.
As for Parlove, he plans to rebuild because the view of Pikes Peak is just to good to pass up.
