Coorado Springs Independent
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — As the sun set on Saturday, the fifth day of the Black Forest Fire, a tragic time became a joyous occasion in front of Pine Creek High School. People lined the intersection with American flags, signs, banners and noisemakers to show their gratitude to the first responders, something that many firefighters had never seen before.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s a beautiful thing — very emotional,” says David Eaker, a member of a Utah fire-management team sent to help with the effort. “I’ve been getting choked up just talking to these people.”
Cheers and thank yous, mixed with vuvzelas and emergency sirens, blanketed the area for hours. Wether it be for a single National Guard humvee, or a caravan of fire engines, the crowd never stopped. Residents from nearby neighborhoods made their way over when they heard the noise from the crowd.
Full story: VIDEO: Emotional crowds gather to thank firefighters