Above the Ashes is a powerful documentary that reveals untold heroes, the strength of mountain communities and the devastation caused by the catastrophic Fourmile fire that ravaged communities to the west of Denver, Colorado. The Fourmile fire started Labor Day 2010. Driven by powerful winds the Fourmile fire struck the historic mining town sites of Gold Hill and Sunshine with a vengeance. The most destructive fire in Colorado history, the Fourmile fire destroyed 169 homes and ravaged almost 7,000 acres of pristine pine forest. Above the Ashes tells the stories of mountain residents that refused to evacuate the historic mining town site of Sunshine and fought the Fourmile fire. For five days the Fourmile fire burned out of control, charred the landscape and burnt homes completely to the ground. Above the Ashes documents the Fourmile fire through the eyes of Sunshine residents who joined together to fight fire, taking action and saving numerous homes in the Sunshine community. Using haunting visuals Above the Ashes reveals tales of bravery, family, friends, loss and the rebuilding of a community. A long time Boulder resident Michelle Bauer Carpenter and her family live in the historic mining town site of Sunshine located in the Fourmile fire burn area. “The losses our friends suffered are absolutely heartbreaking. Over half of the homes in our neighborhood were lost to the fire. As soon as we were allowed home I began documenting the devastation”. Above the Ashes was directed, produced and edited by video artist Michelle Bauer Carpenter, presently assistant professor in Digital Design at the University of Colorado Denver. Above the Ashes features original score by Brandon Vaccaro and closes with the musical piece Smoke and Tears composed by long time Sunshine resident and nationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Rebecca Folsom. The piece features a haunting 5.1 surround sound mix by sound editor and re-recording mixer David Bondelevitch, MPSE, CAS.