Surviving The Colorado Fires

June 27th, 2012
09:35 PM ET



.. Soledad O'Brien and survivor Mindy Levinson report.

Fire evacuee: Smell was awful, choking

Mindy Levinson fled her Colorado home with her young son to escape the fires. She says she wishes took more mementos.

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June 26th, 2012
10:05 PM ET



.. Soledad O'Brien reports.

Evacuee: Wildfire 20 feet from home

The wildfires in Colorado continue to burn thousands of acres of land. Doubling in size overnight, the Waldo Canyon Fire has damaged more than 15,000 acres as of Wednesday morning, threatening more property in Colorado Springs.

While the blaze rages, firefighters have managed to contain only 5% of the flames and the windy conditions mean there is no relief in sight. Gusts from a predicted thunderstorm could make the their work more difficult.

Becky Schormann is one of the approximately 32,000 residents who evacuated. She left her home Sunday after being jolted awake by her husband warning of the coming fires. Shormann, maintaing a sense of humor, jokes, "it was my one morning to sleep in."

Her family and neighbors helped pack a few piles of important items and prepare her two dogs, pony and donkey for travel. Now she's living out of a motor home near her daughter's house with a makeshift pen for the animals.

On Tuesday afternoon, her daughter, a volunteer firefighter, told her the flames were only 20 feet from her home; firefighters prevented them from getting closer. Despite the destruction and uncertainty, Schormann remains hopeful. "I keep telling myself its going to be okay," she said.