August Fires from Maui to Washington – How Communities Rallied Together
- Sep 27, 2023
- 2 min read
The end of August marked a trying time for many as fires ravaged Maui and the Inland Northwest.
Residents of Catholic Charities Hearthstone Senior Citizens housing were given a month’s free rent as a concession in response to the crisis – the Gray Fire was one of two fires locally. The other being the Oregon Road Fire.
Devastation was brought to Spokane County, where many Eastern Washington residents supported one another as people were displaced, and some lost everything to the fires.
Local Businesses Rally Around Victims
Local businesses halted their regular day-to-day activities, offering to help those who were left with no other option other than to rebuild their lives.
One such business was Fofolles Boutique (@fofollessspokane on Instagram), which offered those in need the option to stop in and gather a few clothing items as many waited for their next steps as they began to heal from the tragedy.
You can check out Fofolles interview with KREM 2 below.
Other local businesses partnered with the Red Cross.
KREM 2, along with Chef Chad White (@chadwhite) and NoLi (@nolibrewhouse), showed up by passing out food to evacuees at SFCC, which was used as a Red Cross evacuation site. You can see them in action on the KREM 2 Instagram in a short video listed below.
Another Red Cross evacuation site was at Riverside High School, located in Chattaroy, WA, for those who were evacuating the Oregon Road Fire.
In both evacuation instances, larger animals were taken to the Newport Rodeo Grounds (Oregon Road Fire), and larger animals from the Gray Fire were taken to the Spokane Fairgrounds.
KHQ also offered its readers updates on verified GoFundMe links for wildfire victims, while KREM 2 hosted a telethon and raised over $300k for those affected by the wildfires.
Chaps is currently selling aprons on its website to “Support our Community Fire Victims.” Restaurant and Bakery | Chaps Diner and Bakery | Spokane (chapsgirl.com)
Against the backdrop of our own county wildfires, many Washington residents on both sides of the state were collecting donations for Maui’s horrific wildfire that happened just before our own state experienced something similar.
In both cases, the generosity of so many in our community has not gone unnoticed.
People’s heart postures have been sincere, and Catholic Charities is proud to be a part of such a wonderful and warm community.