According to her husband, Ann Appel would not enjoy all the attention she is getting after her death.
“She would be so embarrassed about this whole thing and the attention that’s been drawn to her that she wouldn’t believe it,” said Scott Appel. “(She was a) beautiful person, really unselfish and just always in the background. Never would draw attention to herself.”
The fire that killed Ann (and two others, and destroyed 27 homes, and scorched 4,140 acres of land) has been the subject of many media outlets in the past month. Colorado state officials started the fire as a prescribed burn. Experts believe that strong winds carried embers from the presumably extinguished fire across the containment line, sparking the wildfire that raged for several days. Dry wood and high winds made the fire difficult to stop.
Ann saw large amounts of smoke the afternoon of the fire. She called 911 to report it and the dispatcher told her that some crews were already on their way. It was around the time of Ann’s phone call that the Colorado State Forest Service realized the fire was out of control.
“You have to realize that nobody knew that the fire was out of control right down there for over two hours in these kind of huge winds,” said Scott. “That’s another big question that I have. How could that happen and nobody warn people up this way?”
Scott talked to his wife before and after the 911 call. He said she had begun gathering their things together for a potential evacuation, but the Appel household never got a notice because the notification company had their home listed in the incorrect region.
Scott and others have voiced concern about the city’s liability in repaying damages. The Colorado Governmental Immunity Act stipulates that the city may only have to pay a total of $600,000, which the plaintiffs would share in the case of a lawsuit.
Scott and other Coloradoans share a valid concern. City officials should pay damages if they are held responsible for damaged property, burn injuries and loss of life sustained because of their actions.
The Metier Law Firm, LLC – Denver injury attorneys