For a few Lyons-area residents, last year’s Stone Canyon Fire destroyed their homes. For others, the fire consumed trees and vegetation on their properties. Many people evacuated, while some stepped up to fight the flames.

No matter what their relationship to the Stone Canyon Fire was when it happened in late July and early August, dozens of volunteers came together over the weekend to plant trees in the burn area and help the Lyons community move forward.

Last Saturday, volunteers piled into vans and ascended the winding Eagle Ridge Road into the foothills near Lyons. People planted trees, removed burned wood and watered seedlings on several properties that were impacted by the Stone Canyon Fire.

The effort was organized by Lyons Volunteers, a local community service organization that formed after the September 2013 flood, which damaged or destroyed homes in the region, including more than 200 homes in Lyons. Pinewood Springs resident Pete Hinzy said the tree planting event was an attempt to reinvigorate the Lyons Volunteers group and enlist new members.

“We’re trying to get people interested and let them know that we’re out there and that we can help out if they need something,” Hinzy said.

Kevin Mahoney wasn’t inside his Eagle Ridge Road home when the fire broke out. As a volunteer firefighter, he was dealing with a different threat — the Alexander Mountain Fire in Larimer County. The Stone Canyon Fire’s flames circled Mahoney’s home, leaving the house undamaged but charring the surrounding trees.

Mahoney’s property received around 200 ponderosa pines and 60 aspen trees on Saturday. Mahoney said his family is looking forward to fall colors brought by the new aspen trees. He also hopes the reforestation will bring back an elk herd that roamed in the area before the fire.

“We’re extremely grateful and thankful for everybody’s help and support,” Mahoney said. “Lyons is such an amazing community.”

Volunteer Jeanne Moore said the Lyons Garden Club recently bought $2,000 worth of wild grass seeds, which will be distributed in the Stone Canyon Fire burn area.

“It’s wonderful to be able to help these people,” Moore said. “We face wildfires every year, and I would love to know that my neighbors and community members would come help me, too.”

Farther up the road, Robyn Sloan’s property received new pine and aspen trees, as well. Volunteers also planted mountain mahogany, chokecherry and other shrubs.

Sloan explained that the shrubs will be food for the local wildlife, which includes turkeys, bobcats and foxes. Sloan said the fire destroyed her 16 cameras that once captured wildlife activity around her property.

As a fellow Eagle Ridge Road resident, volunteer Eric Kallgren remembered seeing the clouds of smoke and alerting his neighbors when the fire began. He said it was impressive to see so many people pitch in to help restore his community.

“We all help each other on the road,” Kallgren said. “That’s a really important, really necessary thing to do up here.”

Another Stone Canyon Fire tree planting event is set for this Saturday, with morning and afternoon shifts available. To register, visit leaflyons.org/lyons-volunteers.

Alison Marvin, a member of Lyons Volunteers, estimated that over 2,000 trees will be planted over the course of both days.

“I love the idea that this canyon and our land is getting replenished,” Marvin said.