“We’re Not Going to Let the Fire Win”

When you have lost everything, how do you maintain hope?

For Trent Owen, this has become a cruel reality. After the Cottonwood Fire, Trent and his family have lost their home, multiple vehicles, equipment for his contracting business, and multiple construction projects. He’s not the only one. Many others in Eagle Point have lost homes as well- from what we know, over 100 homes and condos were destroyed in the fire. A part of the Tushar mountain range, Eagle Point is home to the Eagle Point ski resort, and is known for being a “hidden gem” in central Utah. Over the past few years, it has slowly been growing in popularity, and has built a thriving and devoted community.

Now, after the Cottonwood Fire has destroyed over 90,000 acres, this mountain community will need to rebuild if they want to preserve the place they love. Trent Owen is one of the many individuals on the mountain who lost their home to the fire.

Trent first discovered Eagle Point while working on a remodel for John Sebular, who owned a cabin in Eagle Point. He’d always told Trent he hoped to have him go to the mountain to work on this cabin. Eventually, the Owens family moved to Colorado, and Sebular and Owen lost touch. Five years later, Sebular found his number through the local police department, and called Owen. Sebular was headed into a serious heart surgery, and informed Owen that if he doesn’t make it, he wants Owen to inherit his cabin. Sadly, Sebular passed. True to his word, Trent Owen inherited the cabin, and he and his wife move in.

For the past 15 years, this cabin has been Trent and Christina’s primary residence. Here, their two children, Aspen (8) and Jasper (20 months) were born. Every day, they drove their daughter down the mountain to go to school in Beaver, Utah. They have had countless adventures, and developed a deep love for the mountain and its community.

Owen thinks there is something uniquely special about the mountain. “Nothing matters when you’re up there. Your political beliefs, your religion, your background... it all kind of falls to the wayside.” According to Trent, who has worked as a contractor for many of the families on the mountain, most of the community is determined to stay in the county, and rebuild what was lost.

“Nothing matters when you’re up there. Your political beliefs, your religion, your background... it all kind of falls to the wayside.”

This community is tight-knit. “Our little mountain family,” he called it. They will work together, supporting each other, to preserve this haven they have loved for many years.

Trent’s friend and neighbor was kind enough to start a GoFundMe for the Owen family (linked at the bottom of article). Any donation will help cover what insurance won’t, support their family through this transition, and help them to stay in Beaver as they begin the process of rebuilding.

Even after seeing his property destroyed for the first time, Trent is full of hope. “We’re not going to let the fire win.” His hope and gratitude is a force to be reckoned with, and an inspiration. He asks that the community sticks together. “As a community, we will get through this.” It may take time, but the homes will be rebuilt, and what was lost in the forest will regrow. The Eagle Point community will be there too- rebuilding, growing closer, and stronger, than ever before.