Between Two Fires

How Does a Devastated Community Rise from the Ashes?

The past few days in our Spokane, Washington community, we have experienced the worst of nightmares. We have had a very hot and dry spring and summer and those of us who have lived in the area for awhile felt the danger coming. For a week or so before the first of August, every weather agency started sounding warning bells about a large wind event predicted to come our way. It came and was even more extreme than they forecasted.

I understood the warnings. All my internal alarms warned me to be packed up and ready to evacuate quickly. I had done this kind of prep a few times over the years. Important papers and precious photos loaded into the back of the car and a “go bag” of clothing and toiletries sitting next to the back door. You always hope they won’t be needed. Even this time so far they haven’t been. Yet.

On the morning of Saturday, August 1^st, smoke was spotted in more than one location, sirens could be heard non-stop, and the Watch Duty app and emergency notifications were blowing up our phones one after another. The winds were gusting mightily. One fire northwest of the city began to rage and soon jumped the Spokane River. Another fire started in the Mead area not far from our house in Colbert. It was eating up wheat fields and evergreen trees and soon homes and other structures. We got a message from our daughter that the northwest fire was headed right at their neighborhood and they were on their way to us with the few things they could gather.

If you looked at a fire map of our area, we were wedged in a “crack” between two raging fires. On the map below, our home is south and west of where it says “Colbert”. Winds blew one straight into the city and it was indiscriminately devouring homes at will. The other was skipping into neighborhoods and surrounding agricultural fields. There we were between them hoping and praying. Today, on this third day, winds have decreased but so many hot spots flare up and start the chase all over again. The level 3 evacuations still hold. Our daughter’s family has no idea when they will be able to return to their home. We are grateful for so many fire crews from near and far who have worked around the clock to battle what would be the worst fire, now called the Spokane Complex Fire, our area has ever known.

Photo credit: Fox 13 Seattle

I share all this because today I am struggling. We are beginning to get a few glimpses of the devastation left behind. Early on our son-in-law managed to get to their neighborhood and found their home still standing, but once he left, no one has been allowed back into the evacuation zones. Over 60,000 people have been misplaced and over 700 structures are rubble and parts of these fires are not done. As a few photos begin to appear from the evacuated areas, a large piece of our beautiful city looks like a war zone. I’m heartbroken for those who have lost everything.

Photo credit: Al Jazeera

But even more than those feelings of helplessness and anguish, the anger has surfaced. Today they arrested an arson suspect, a known convicted criminal, who has been identified as the person who intentionally set fire to a tinder box, knowing exactly that the winds would carry those first flames and turn them into a raging inferno. I’m a pretty forgiving person, but I am having a hard time not wanting the worst for him. My human sense of justice wants recompense and for him to be confronted with the outcome of his actions. I know God will ultimately be the judge of all. My human heart is crying out for justice.

I have heard from so many of my followers here offering prayers and support for me, my family and my community. Every message is felt deeply. I am carried on those prayers. I believe that though it may take weeks, months or even years, the Spokane community will thrive once more. Already so many acts of kindness and generosity are easing the pain, the anger, the sorrow, and the loss. I always say that the worst of circumstances always brings out the best in people. We are just getting started with the kind of helping that will rebuild the Spokane we know and love. Our “Near Nature, Near Perfect” city took a huge hit, but we will rise again. And I’ll be right here to share about all the good that overshadowed the Spokane Complex Fire.

Photo Credit: New York Times