RBC | Everyone experienced the Elk and Lee fires from their own perspective. For some it meant the inconvenience and discomfort of having to evacuate, for others it brought damage and destruction to property and livelihood. The impacts continue to ripple through the community, and will likely be felt for months, maybe years, to come.
For the Rafellos, who rent a home along Highway 13, the wildfires were yet another blow to a family that has been figuratively under fire for months, facing disabling injuries, unexpected illness, and the accompanying financial and emotional distress.
Lou and Jerriann Rafello moved to Colorado from California four years ago with their teenaged daughter. Lou was permanently disabled in an accident many years ago and has experienced several health issues in the last few years that required surgery. Jeriann is — was — an emergency room nurse with decades of experience until a workplace accident in an ER in California left her with serious, debilitating injuries and loss of income. A 2023 MRI to diagnose the source of her pain from the accident revealed a tumor on her kidney and a cancer diagnosis. She had another surgery in August related to the accident. She’s been fighting ever since, while awaiting a verdict from workman’s compensation in California and struggling to survive on Lou’s disability income.
As the Lee Fire barreled toward Hwy. 13 in August, the Rafellos had to evacuate. They gathered their belongings, their daughter, and their two service dogs and headed to town, where they spent a night on couches in the basement of the White River Methodist Church. The next day they had to relocate again.
With no money for a hotel room, they were directed to Craig, where the Red Cross was setting up a shelter for evacuees. They were turned away because of their service animals by Red Cross officials and three Craig churches.
Not knowing what else to do, they returned to Meekerand ended up at the intersection of Highways 13 and 64. The highway was closed. No way to return to their home. After speaking with county road and bridge staff and a Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer, Sheriff Anthony Mazzola and Sgt. Pena approached Lou’s vehicle. Lou explained the situation, and was told the sheriff’s office had a place for them to go where they’d be safe.
Lou said Jerriann exclaimed, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” when they pulled up in front of the Rio Blanco County Justice Center — the empty jail. The sheriff’s department put the family up for the night and brought them pizza. The next day, supplied with gas money and arrangements set up by the sheriff’s office, the Rafellos headed for Rangely, to the kindness of strangers.
The Rafellos made the 60 mile drive to Rangely and connected with Tim Webber, member of Rangely’s Board of Trustees and the executive director of the Western Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District. Webber introduced them to Jeff LeBleu, who had offered use of his camp trailer at the campground on the east end of town.
“There were about 18 other families,” Lou said. “They brought us food, water, soda, and gift cards for the Italian restaurant across the street.” LeBleu later brought them a cooler full of meat and Pepsi — Jerriann’s favorite, which she hadn’t had for quite a while. Lou was visibly moved by the kindness they were shown by complete strangers, from Webber and LeBleu, to fellow customers at the restaurant who overheard them talking about their situation and started handing them cash.
The Rafellos spent 10 days in the camper, where they felt safe, cared for, and were treated with genuine kindness.
“Kudos to all of them,” Lou said of the help from the sheriff’s office, and Rangely residents and businesses, amd the help and support received from Sarah, their DHS caseworker.
Returning to Meeker was like returning to a warzone, Lou said; in more ways than one. The devastation the fire wrought on the landscape brought to the forefront their own ongoing battles with multiple medical crises, a pending workman’s compensation case, and coming to the end of the road financially. They’re months behind on rent, and while they’re extremely grateful the property owner has let them stay, they know that’s not a sustainable situation.
A year ago, Lou set up a fundraising page for Jerriann at SpotFund (http://spot.fund/7z6x8zsc), a fundraising site similar to GoFundMe that doesn’t take fees. While the family awaits the resolution of their legal case and tries to heal, any help is appreciated.
“The way I was raised, you don’t ask for help. You figure out how to make ends meet,” Lou said. “But we need help.”
The Rafello family and their service dogs, Opal and Lily, found themselves at the mercy of strangers when they had to evacuate during the Lee Fire. Now, following a series of medical crises, they’re facing severe financial distress and are in need of help. JARED HENDERSON PHOTO