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Scenic Brook, Windmill Run neighborhoods mark wildfire anniversary
On April 17, 2011, wildfires damaged or destroyed 21 homes in the Scenic Brook and Windmill Run neighborhoods.
On April 29, neighbors gathered in Windmill Run Park to mark the anniversary and thank the volunteers who helped rebuild their community.
The event was both celebration and heartfelt remembrance.
Attendants socialized while picnic tables overflowed with homemade and donated foods. Local musicians provided festive tunes on a small stage throughout the event.
Residents also etched drawings and messages into clay for a planned Oak Hill Village commemorative mosaic wall to be built in the park.
Once a resident had finished with his or her clay piece, an art therapist would ask what the piece meant to them and listen to his or her stories.
Lilly Henric's home had been completely destroyed in the wildfire. In the year since then, neighbors and volunteers directed $40,000 and hundreds of hours toward rebuilding her uninsured home.
At the art table, she etched an angel. She teared up as she explained that the help she received from her neighbors was akin to angels being around her.
Janice Todd struck the same theme with her clay piece, writing "Oak Hill has angels/Doug & Janice."
Todd explained that legal issues had delayed reconstruction of their home. Now that the issues have been resolved, she said she hoped the community would continue to help.
Tom Thayer said he did not recognize many of the people at the remembrance—a sign that the wider community was involved in the recovery effort. "It's not just a few people doing it," he said.
Gary Hunt, chairman of Oak Hill Wildfire Relief, helped present medals of appreciation and plaques to dedicated volunteers. OHWR had created roughly 250 certificates of appreciation to those who had helped or donated to the recovery.
Those affected by the wildfires were invited to address the crowd. Henric thanked everyone "with all of her heart" and chose to step away from the microphone. Doug Todd expressed gratitude as well.
Earlier in the event, Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Garry Brown, chief of staff for Travis County Precinct 3 Commissioner Karen Huber, addressed the crowd.
Leffingwell praised first responders and emergency personnel for quelling the fire and residents for helping each other in the wildfires' wake. He declared April 29 Oak Hill Fire Remembrance Day and etched a message into clay.
Reading a letter from Huber, Brown said the county teamed up with the City of Austin and first responders to create the Travis County Wild Land Task Force Committee to better coordinate during emergencies.
Brown announced that the county was working on installing an informational kiosk about wildfire safety at the park. In her statement, Huber referenced the myth of the phoenix—a bird rising from ashes to live again—and praised the community's rebuilding efforts.
