Marshall Fire victims return back to no homes

Neighbors forced to rebuild from the ground up

DENVER, Colo. (KYMA, KECY/CNN) - Hundreds of Coloradans who were forced to evacuate their neighborhoods are returning home, only to find debris and ashes.

One evacuee Jessi Delaplain looked over the lot her home used to lay on. She couldn't believe her sight.

"It's really devastating," Delaplain said. "I feel like I made it out with my life. And that's, I think, the most important thing."

Delaplain was home alone when she had to evacuate. So, she quickly grabbed her cats, chickens and necessities.

As Delaplain pulled out of the driveway, she saw was realized just how serious the situation was.

"I looked outside and saw complete blackness," Delaplain described. "And I gathered myself. I gathered our cats, which was no easy feat to stuff them into the car. And I pulled out the driveway and there were flames surrounding us."

Once she confirmed the destruction of her home, Delaplain texted her neighbor Josh Mitchell a text at 4 a.m. letting him know about his house.

"We've been to this house for six years. I'm a contractor. I'd redone the whole thing," Mitchell shared. "Our whole shop's gone. I've it's just crazy."

Mitchell's home was not just a place of business for him, but also for his wife. She worked out of home too.

"We're all went in together. Glad, everybody's safe," he added. "Just, you know, it's a good town. We'll rebuild. Just might, it'll take a while."