In the end, the Blue Cut Fire damaged or destroyed important historic structures, like the Summit Inn and Clyde Ranch, injured multiple firefighters, scorched through thousands of acres of land, and forever changed hundreds of lives. Thankfully, no human lives were lost directly due to the fire.

Although the Blue Cut Fire carved out a path of devastation and destruction in our local area, the resilience of residents and the heroism of first responders allowed the community to get through this difficult time. Nature's ability to rejuvenate and residents' ability to rebuild pushed everyone through the dark hours that followed the blaze. Despite the bitter memories associated with the Blue Cut Fire, the current landscape shows the strength of perseverance, the possibilities created when people come together, and both nature and humanity's resilience to dire situations. Additionally, Benoit's images allow viewers today to see what happened five years ago, but also give us the opportunity to see the extent of renewal that has occurred, especially when comparing these images to the current landscape that was once so deeply affected by the Blue Cut Fire.