Local Red Cross volunteers back from Colo. wildfire

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City area Red Cross workers are now back from Colorado.

Several volunteers went out west to help those displaced by the wildfires that ravaged the state.

Bob McSweeny was one of four Red Cross volunteers in charge of feeding and handing out cleaning supplies to people affected by the blazes.

Mcsweeny said he's been to many disaster areas -- but he always walks away thinking one thing.

"It's the amazing resilience of people,” he said. “You can knock them down, but they get back up, and we're going to try to help them do that."

Ernie Gaut is back in Kansas after volunteering as well. He helped by driving an emergency response vehicle and giving out water, snacks, blankets and other items to those in need.

He and another Kansas volunteer said many of those affected by the wildfire were surprisingly upbeat – but sometimes it was hard for them to hold back tears.

"These people have lost everything, that's a hard thing to see,” Gaut said. “I'm just happy that I was able to go and be there with them and help them through that time."

The fire destroyed 350 homes and displaced more than 1,000 people. It is now contained.