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Generous Citizens Offer Room & Board To Evacuees

LOVELAND, Colo. (CBS4) - There was some great news for a lot of residents displaced by the High Park Fire as they were able to return to their homes on Tuesday. But there also were others who were ordered to evacuate.

Hundreds of people have been going to the The Ranch at the Larimer County Fairgrounds in Loveland for community briefings to get the very latest on the fire information. There were many citizens not affected by the fire who just showed up to help those in need.

"We just got out as soon as the smoke starting surrounding us," evacuee Michael Bilello said.

For the past few nights Bilello and his family have called the Red Cross shelter home.

"It eats at you a little bit," he said.

His main concern now is keeping his five children occupied, and his wife, who is seven months pregnant, comfortable.

"She's not too comfortable. I had to give her a couple hand massages last night and stuff to get her relaxed," he said.

But because of the generosity of a complete stranger, Bilello's family moved out of the shelter on Wednesday.

"I had the space, so I just came down here just to see who would be put in front of me and God put the right people in front of me, so now we're all going to go back and get settled," Ali Thompson of Fort Collins said.

Thompson said it was just the right thing to do.

"If I was in this position I would feel really blessed to have someone come and do this for me so, that's what I'm doing," she said.

It was just one of the many stories of generous people coming to help the evacuees.

One woman who just learned that she had lost her house to the fire returned to the evacuation center to try to comfort her neighbors.

Wildfire Resources

- Visit CBSDenver.com's Wildfire Resources section.

- Read recent Wildfire stories.

Wildfire Photo Galleries

- See images from the most destructive wildfire (Fourmile Fire) and largest wildfire (Hayman Fire) in Colorado history.

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