A photograph taken during the Cerro Grande Fire in 2000. Courtesy/Los Alamos Historical Society Archives
Editor’s note: Read detailed accounts of the 20th anniversary of the Cerro Grande Fire in the Thursday print edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos is no stranger to crisis. The town was established during a period of huge crisis, World War II, and times of struggle have appeared throughout its history.
Today marks the 20th anniversary of one of these critical milestones – the Cerro Grande Fire.
May 4, 2000 was when the wildfire ignited, Los Alamos Historical Society Museum Educator Aimee Slaughter said. To commemorate this event, the historical society created the exhibit, “Resilience and Regrowth”.
Due to our most recent crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, the exhibit is online and can be viewed at www.losalamoshistory.org/cerrogrande.
Slaughter said the pandemic forced the museum to close, but staff wanted to ensure the exhibit would still be available to the public.
“We wanted to create this exhibit in the first place because it is the 20th anniversary for the Cerro Grande Fire … the museum will be closed on the anniversary itself … so we wanted to make the exhibit accessible,” she said.
While not the original plan, Slaughter said moving the exhibit to the Internet opened more opportunities to engage the public.
She explained on the website, individuals who experienced the wildfire firsthand were invited to share their stories and reflect on the event. Their comments were incorporated into the exhibit.
The timing for this exhibit seems perfect for several reasons. Not only because it commemorates the anniversary of the Cerro Grande Fire, but the exhibit offers insight and lessons learned for the current pandemic crisis, Slaughter said.
One of the lessons learned, she said, is “As a community during the Cerro Grande Fire, you can get help if you ask for it. The help is there whether you are going through a wildfire 20 years ago or a pandemic; it is important to find strength to get the help you need and the support from people.”
Other lessons, Slaughter said, are “We are more resilient than we think we are (and) it is OK that is doesn’t feel OK … that is part of going through this process.”
She added, “It takes time and it is a very individualized process. Right now … everyone is going through their own individual experiences and individual processes.
Slaughter said despite the passage of time since the fire ignited, it still has a significant impact on the area.
Slaughter said there are some people who are still emotional about the wildlife; she added the process of healing from the Cerro Grande Fire is valuable and the exhibit is part of that journey.
“We are still recovering from it (and) we are still feeling the effects from it,” she said.
The Cerro Grande Fire, according to the “Resilience and Regrowth” website, destroyed or damaged the homes of 413 families in Los Alamos. Two elderly residents of Santa Clara Pueblo died as a result of smoke from the fire. The website further reports that the fire burned 47,650 acres of forest including San Ildefonso and Santa Clara land and parts of Los Alamos National Laboratory land.
The History Museum staff spent months preparing the physical exhibit about the Cerro Grande Fire and were just about to open it when the governor announced her public health order, Slaughter said.
Luckily, Slaughter said part of the process of getting artifacts ready for display is to photograph them so these photos could be posted to the website. Additionally, the text was transferred from different panels to online. Slaughter said staff worked to make sure the site was accessible for different devices.
The exhibit is divided up under different headers on the site, which came from the panels, too. They include “support,” “adapt,” “connect,” “give” and “empower”.
Slaughter said the exhibit’s team wanted to emphasize verbs during times of crisis to show people that “… you can do these things. Reflect on what are your strengths, how are you able to adapt?”
The exhibit also features photographs that were taken during the wildfire. Slaughter said some of the images were in the museum’s possession. She added that staff partnered with organizations and individuals to obtain other photos.
The stories and memories that “Resilience and Regrowth” ignited have not only impacted the community but also the exhibit’s creators.
Slaughter said, for herself, she didn’t live in Los Alamos when the Cerro Grande Fire occurred, so everything has been new. It was interesting to hear stories from those who did experience it, she said.
“… Every time we had a team meeting, we had a moment for people to share stories,” she said. “Everybody had personal memories; it is still such a big thing for the community. It was such an emotional, significant thing.”
When the History Museum reopens, according to Historical Society press release, an expanded version of “Resilience and Regrowth” will be on view in the temporary exhibit gallery. The Los Alamos Historical Society preserves, promotes, and communicates the remarkable history and inspiring stories of Los Alamos and its people for the community, for the global audience, and for future generations. More information about the Historical Society can be found at www.losalamoshistory.org. Stay up to date with the latest news from the Historical Society by following @LosAlamosHistory on Facebook and Instagram.