Volunteers resurrect burn area

PAJARITO, N.M. (KRQE) - "It just turned into a holocaust that was headed our way," said Tom Long, General Manager of Pajarito Ski Area. In June, he watched as the Las Conchas fire spread from four acres to over 40,000 acres overnight.

The Las Conchas fire burned 150,000 acres, threatening Los Alamos and surrounding areas; burning onto Pajarito Mountain and its ski area.

Long saw about twenty percent of the ski area's property destroyed right in front of him.

"It just turned into an inferno, and it separated that whole rope, and it destroyed that top terminal, and it destroyed that whole lift," said Long. Two destroyed ski lifts, spot fires burning up trees; when people heard of the damage, many came up the hill by the dozens to chip wood, and deal with fallen trees. Anything they could do.

Since then, thousands of volunteers have pitched in to restore the area just in time for winter.

Volunteers originally built up the ski area in the 1950's. Today, people like Joe Martinez, are giving a helping hand to revamp it.

"Cutting wood with a saw, helped chip some debris out, just helped out everybody with what they really needed," said Martinez.

The restoration has been mostly volunteer-based. Fifty volunteers a day were in the hills all summer, getting their hands dirty.

The fire's destruction is evident, where Pajarito's original ski lift was destroyed. The cables snapped and chairs fell. Now, people are donating for a piece of history in order to repair it.

"I think I'm going to make it into a swing and put it out on the back patio," said Tom Harper, as he picks out a chair.

Most of the 120 fallen chairs have been purchased for $100 a pop. With that money and the extra hands, Pajarito has only one thing left to be ready for opening day.

"Just let it snow," said Long.

In the 2010 season, Pajarito got so little snow it was only open 15 days.