Post fire cleanup continues

MEDICAL LAKE – The Medical Lake Gray Fire, which blazed through 10,000 acres of land and destroyed 240 homes on August 18, 2023, left a trail of devastation in its wake.

In the aftermath of the Gray Fire, a dedicated group of volunteers has united to assist homeowners in clearing the debris, making way for the reconstruction of their homes.

Mayor Terri Cooper, who was actively coordinating volunteers at the parking lot of Medical Lake High School, revealed the collaborative effort between the city and Re*Imagine Medical Lake.

"What's happening here today is a volunteer organization the city is partnered with, Re*Imagine Medical Lake, that is focused on long-term recovery," she explained.

Discussing the importance of immediate action to prevent future fires, Mayor Cooper stressed the need for communities to be prepared for swift responses.

She also emphasized the importance of state funding, as the initial $1.5 million allocated by the governor, while welcome, faces the challenges of government bureaucracy.

Noelle and Kate, 42 and 65, two dedicated volunteers in the cleanup project, expressed their heartfelt commitment to the cause.

Noelle said, "What's most heartbreaking is seeing things like bed springs in the rubble – these are people's lives and dreams."

Kate, referencing the homeowners who were volunteering, remarked, "What's so notable is the spirit of the community."

Tim Windemuth, 73, whose home miraculously survived the flames, expressed profound gratitude.

"I'm so grateful my house is there," Windemuth said. Underlining the significance of his faith and goodwill toward his neighbors, "our heart goes out to our neighbors."

Lauri Kirstein, 61, who tragically lost her home, conveyed her struggles with losing her home.

"You have ups and downs. The insurance coming through helps," Kirstein said. "But replacing everything is exhausting. You have to buy everything from your toothbrush to your winter coat."

Ron Burress, 56, one of the leaders of the volunteer cleanup effort, explained the difficulties of organizing an effort of this scale with no prior financial assistance,

"We have no budget, we are doing this all for free and no charge to the homeowner," Burress said. "We've tried to get equipment, volunteers, and money that we can use."

Burress said it's tough to get help to the entire city, "We try to use the resources we have to get everyone, but some people are left out due to their location being too difficult to get to."

Burress said that local businesses had donated roughly 50-100 thousand dollars worth of machinery to the cause.

Despite the lack of a budget, the committee's resourcefulness has been remarkable, with the support of local businesses and community donations providing valuable equipment and machinery for the cleanup.

Author Bio

Clare McGraw, Reporter

Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.