Wildfire evacuees cling to hope

SPOKANE - In a matter of minutes, the Gray Fire grew into an aggressive beast that scorched more than 10,000 acres.

The fire had authorities calling for Level III evacuation notices for 5,000-plus residents of the Medical Lake and Four Lakes areas Friday Aug. 18.

As flames quickly swept over the hills behind Lakeland Village, nearby Medical Lake residents such as Catherine Swan didn't have a lot of time to gather belongings before fleeing.

"I knew there was a fire nearby," Swan said. "I just didn't realize how close it actually was."

"The cops came banging on our door, and got me and my mother into their vehicle and down to the high school where they were bussing people to Cheney High School."

Little did they know the wind would alter those plans.

The wind changed directions and blew the flames closer to Cheney and Four Lakes, forcing evacuation zones to expand, sending more people to the shelter.

Spokane Transit Authority had multiple busses on transport duty helping residents get to safety.

American Medical Response, too, offered to help speed up the evacuation process using its ambulances.

With traffic backing up in Cheney, the winds changing and buses and ambulances needing a place to take evacuees, Red Cross set up a shelter at Spokane Falls Community College, 3410 W. Forth Wright Drive.

Day shift shelter supervisor Larry Emery said the initial push was hectic.

"The initial response to this particular instance was a little bit of organized chaos," Emery said. "With the speed this fire affected people and how fast we had to mobilize, it was difficult because we only had two people on site."

Because the fire shifted and put the first shelter at risk, the decision was made to move to the college, where he and one other volunteer set up the basics.

Emery said it immediately strained their workforce, and added man-hours to the security team that monitors the building, as well.

"On a positive note, the community has been over-the-top generous," Emery said. "We have had loads of restaurants and stores donating food. So, these folks are eating well.

"Plus, we have people here helping with mental and physical health needs, on top of getting any essential medications for people that need them."

Emery said he and his volunteer team have been working 12-hour shifts throughout the evacuation process.

Swan, who has lived in Medical Lake for two years, said a lot of the stress was from being rushed away, but not knowing when they would be returning or what they would return to.

"My mother and I lived next to each other," Swan tearfully said. "And we had put a lot of heart into making our little space in paradise.

"Now, it's all gone and there aren't even any pieces we can pick up so we just have to start over."

Swan spoke through tears as she explained her love for gardening and how she had started a Maringa Tree in a garden that is now a burnt scar on her property.

Jason Van Zandt also evacuated from Medical Lake. He lives in an apartment in the northern end of the city that was left undamaged.

Van Zandt said he didn't expect an evacuation; he was asleep right before the fire swept through town.

"I woke up shortly before I learned there was a fire," Van Zandt said. "Then I opened my door and looked down the road and could see the flames burning through trees and buildings.

"Fortunately, my neighbor had two vehicles and asked me to drive one down to the evacuation center."

Van Zandt said he is fortunate though, and his heart goes to the families and neighbors who lost everything.

"I feel really bad for the older residents and families with kids," Van Zandt said. "Watching the kids trying to process this trauma is tough."

Susan Hopkins didn't live in the city limits, but also evacuated Friday night.

"I knew there was a big fire because of all of the smoke in the air," Hopkins said. "Then before I knew it, there were a ton of people getting out of Dodge as fast as they could."

Hopkins said she had already been displaced a couple months prior to the fire, and that she had been living in her truck.

"I live on a fixed income," Hopkins said. "And I couldn't afford a rent increase I was facing, so I was already homeless.

"But now I can't even go down to watch the geese at my favorite park, Waterfront Park."

Hopkins said she was already hurting because of the housing, but this put her on the verge of hopelessness.

"It's just hard because you learn to start to love a place after a couple of years," Hopkins said. "But then everything is turned upside down very quickly.

"I knew I was already going to have to start over, but I just don't know if I will be able to start over here or have to move away completely."