Resilience Tested Again in Meeker Wildfire: 87-Year-Old Man Faces 2nd Fire Tragedy

By Alliyah Sims | KDVR Fox 31

MEEKER, Colo. (KDVR) — It’s an incredible story of resilience coming out of the fire zone near Meeker, where 87-year-old Bob Kydd has now survived two major fire disasters.

Last week, on Aug. 3, the Elk Fire destroyed his home, decades after he escaped the explosion at a famous lodge near Meeker back in 1991.

Bob chose to keep his privacy and did not want to speak on camera for an interview, but we spoke with neighbors who know him well. They say Bob is a quiet and independent man.

The community’s response to his recent loss has been an outpouring of support. A fundraiser raising more than $14,000 in less than a day.

The loss is overwhelming for Bob. His home, a place of memories and solitude, now reduced to rubble and ashes.

“Bob’s life in Meeker is pretty structured,” said neighbor Ryan Wix. “He’s got his routine and he remains up on the hill. He is pretty quiet within the community. Everyone who does know Bob and knows Bob from the Sleepy Cat, knows he is a wonderful individual.”

Ryan talks about his early memories with Bob.

“Riding my mini bike up to Bob’s house up on the ridge from the Sleepy Cat with my brother and dad. We would go up there and visit him. He was the cook and scone man at Sleepy Cats,” said Ryan. “I got a lot of meals from him and a lot of scones full of honey. Other than that, through the years when Bob wasn’t working, we would go visit him pretty frequently and spend some time with him up on the hill at his house.”

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