Sunshine & Stories Reflects on Life during a Wildfire

What is Sunshine & Stories?

Sunshine & Stories is a Colorado State Library podcast dedicated to all things summer in public libraries. During our 2024-25 season, keep an eye out for new episodes twice a month from August to May. We’ll explore topics like performers, incentives, outreach, volunteers, capturing impact, and many more ideas related to designing a summer public library program for your whole community (adults included!). Featuring interviews with other Colorado State Library staff and ideas from Colorado library professionals around the state, this podcast aims to provide valuable insight and spark creative ideas in your public library’s own 2025 summer planning. Whether you’re a veteran in the summer library program planning world, a newbie looking to start a summer program for the first time, or someone who’s considering changing up your program a little or a lot this year, we hope this podcast will be a valuable resource for you. Sunshine & Stories is available on most major podcast apps.

Ep. 213 Responding to Wildfire with Jeremy Krones

Episode Summary:

Polly Gallagher chats with Jeremy Krones, Grand County resident, East Troublesome Wildfire victim, and trustee on the Grand County Library District public library board. Together, they go through the immediate experience of a devastating wildfire in Grand County from October 2020 through the lens of resident and library leadership. Starting with the fateful day of the pre-evacuation order through to the final rebuilding of a home and celebration of community. Get prepared and stay safe. (Full transcript available here.)

Content Notes: This episode discusses loosing a home to wildfire.

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00:20 – October 21, 2020, pre-evac to evac order in minutes
6:48 – The days that followed, from the eyes of an evacuee
8:55 – The days that followed, from the eyes of the library response
11:05 – Be aware of vocational awe
12:35 – Ducks in a row
16:02 – Moving forward
20:55 – Collectors of memories
22:10 – Final thoughts
24:19 – Closing