breaking news
Professor Dies in Boise Wildfire That Destroyed 10 Homes
By Courtney Lowery, 8-26-08
A tragic story this morning in Boise just hit the wires: Authorities have found a body in a burned Boise home after a quick-moving grass fire destroyed 10 homes in the southeast section of the city last night.
KTVB in Boise has the breaking story.
Update: The Idaho Statesman’s Patrick Orr reports that the body is likely that of Mary Ellen Ryder, a Boise State University professor who had been missing since her house in Columbia Village burned—the same house where authorities found the body.
During fire season in the West, mass evacuations can seem commonplace, overly cautious even—especially when year after year, hundreds upon thousands of people evacuate from Western wildfires and often, nothing happens, to them or to their homes. But this is a stark reminder of just how important those evacuations plans can be and how we cannot be lulled by the routine of fires in our backyards—a very sad reminder.
Update: We just received this press release about a fund raiser for fire victims during Alive at Five on Wednesday, August 27 at the Grove. For more information regarding the Burnout Fund call 590-1437. Here’s part of the release:
Boise Firefighters Local 149 Burnout Fund at
Alive After Five Summer Concert Series to raise funds
(August 26, 2008 - Boise, ID) Members of the Boise Firefighters Local 149
will be at Alive After Five on Wednesday August 27th to raise funds for the
victims of the southeast Boise fire victims. The event takes place on the
Grove Plaza downtown Boise from 5 to 8 pm.Alive After Five is organized by the Downtown Boise Association (DBA) and is
a fundraiser for downtown cleaning services, beautification projects and
marketing. The Downtown Boise Association mission is to be the steward for
the promotion and operation of downtown Boise as an attractive, safe and
vibrant place to work, shop, live and play. Alive After Five is a downtown
marquee event that attracts thousands to downtown throughout the summer.For more information regarding the Burnout Fund call 590-1437. For more
information on Alive After Five visit www.downtownboise.org.
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Comments
Over the years, I ended up working with Dr. Ryder on a few students' committees and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. She was indeed dedicated to students, and she was funny and smart and bold and full of life. She had soul.
We weren't friends, we weren't close, but Mary Ellen touched my life and I have felt very sad hearing this news today. I'm glad she was here and that I had the honor of knowing her, even just a little.
My condolences to her family and her friends and the students who are feeling a hole in their hearts today.