Watch CBS News

'Starting From Scratch': Middle School Teacher's Home Burns To The Ground

CONIFER, Colo. (CBS4)- A middle school teacher lost everything when her Conifer home burned to the ground on Tuesday. Dawn Beck was out of the country on a school-sponsored trip when the fire ignited.

CONIFER FIRE VICTIM 6PKG.transfer_frame_0
(credit: CBS)

Beck says she knows what caused the fire and shared the information with her coworkers Jan Creel and Carol Miner.

"They have a propane tank where they live in the mountains and it blew up," said Miner.

CONIFER FIRE VICTIM 6PKG.transfer_frame_210
(credit: CBS)

The home engulfed by the flames belonged to Beck, a teacher at Evergreen Middle School.

Beck shared the home with her husband, son and mother. She was on a trip to Iceland with some of her students when the fire happened. Her co-workers stepped up to bring her home.

CONIFER FIRE VICTIM 6PKG.transfer_frame_360
(credit: Jan Cree)

"Another colleague of ours was able to fly out to Iceland right away and trade places with her so she could come home," said Creel.

When Beck returned to Conifer she found the unthinkable. Her home had burned to the ground.

CONIFER FIRE VICTIM 6PKG.transfer_frame_823
(credit: CBS)

"They're starting over from scratch. Ground zero," said Miner.

Beck's fellow teachers and administrators heard about what happened and knew they couldn't just sit idly by. They set up a fund raising page to help Beck and her family transition into new housing and a new life while their home is being rebuilt. They say it's what Dawn would have done the same thing for any one of them.

CONIFER FIRE VICTIM 6PKG.transfer_frame_866
(credit: CBS)

"She's the kind of person that would have jumped right in and figured out something right away and would already be helping us," said Creel.

CONIFER FIRE VICTIM 6PKG.transfer_frame_1242
(credit: Jan Cree)

The Evergreen Middle School community is calling on the entire Colorado community to help raise money for this family in the GoFundMe campaign.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.