"Will Stay Together in Heaven" American Couple Who Firmly Refused Wildfire Evacuation Dies

East Trouble Island Fire. Source = Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Hana Na] An elderly American couple who refused to evacuate despite the urgent need to flee due to a large wildfire, insisting on staying in their beloved home, were ultimately found dead.

According to CNN on the 24th (local time), Brett Schrodtlin, sheriff of Grand County, Colorado, discovered the couple's bodies on the 23rd (local time) at a residence on the outskirts of the town of Grand Lake.

The victims were Lyle Hilderman (86) and his wife Marilyn (84). Although evacuation orders were issued, they refused to leave their cherished home where they had lived with their family, resulting in the tragedy.

On the evening of the 21st, the elderly couple called their son Glen, saying, "It has happened," and reported that "the fire had reached the fields, barns, and even the neighbors' houses."

However, the couple remained calm and firmly stated they would not leave, according to the family.

The family said the couple firmly declined offers from friends who volunteered to help them evacuate. In a statement, the family said, "Their only wish was to be together in the home they loved."

Sadly, the couple had started their newlywed life in this area in 1952 when they were young and purchased a home near Rocky Mountain National Park a few years later.

The family described the home as "a lifelong mission to create a 'heaven on earth' that would attract the hearts of family, friends, and even strangers who quickly became friends."

The family said the couple left behind "a legacy of diligence, sincerity, and determination to overcome that will be needed by all Grand County residents."

Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado, also expressed his sorrow over the incident, posting on Twitter, "Very sad. My heart goes out to the family and friends of Lyle and Marilyn Hilderman."

Meanwhile, the wildfire that completely destroyed the couple's home is known as the "East Troublesome Fire," one of several large wildfires engulfing Colorado.

The East Troublesome Fire began on the 14th and has burned over 188,000 acres (approximately 762 km²), an area larger than the entire city of Seoul (about 605 km²), as of this morning, but containment remains at only 4%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.