u/Ok_Television233

KHQ is telling this community resilience and hopeful story about how three unknown people stayed and saved their neighbors' houses by battling the blaze late into the night with garden hoses.

This is not a feel good story, this is a lesson in what not to do. This is the stuff that gets firefighters killed. Human life is the highest value they seek to protect, more than homes or anything else. This is when they'll take the biggest risks with the most dangerous potential outcomes for themselves.

I'm glad this ended well, but this is asking firefighters to be put a position to come off the line, deploy into a dangerous situation (diminishing response capability from the actual fire) and rescue people who didn't listen and get out of the way. I'm glad these folks have houses today, too many of my friends don't, but don't do this please, especially if you've never been redcarded and trained and have equipment.

I wouldn't trade anyone's lives- including and maybe especially firefighters'- for houses though (including my own that I'm evac'ed from) and that is a real risk with these situations. If air support is grounded for TFR violation they can't evac or insert people into these types of situations either, so just get out, stay out, and keep the drones on the ground.

First, thanks to all the folks who came and donated items to fill up a truck and deliver it to the Colville Tribes' donation center.

We ended up with a fantastic haul of their priority request items from folks down here who wanted to help, and I also know folks from reddit were using the official link to donate money. You can continue to do that at: Cedar Fund Wildfire Recovery Campaign

The donation center in Grand Coulee does keep a whiteboard of most needed items updated at the donation center. That might not help if you are coming up from Spokane, but if you are planning a run you can DM me and I'll give you the number to call the center for the most up-to-date needs. I just don't want them getting blown up while they are trying to get things received and organized.

Dog food was the big lifesaver yesterday, as they had just run out. As of yesterday, they had a good stock of cat food, but dog food was going out as quickly as it came in.

one thing they mentioned needing was tables to help lay things out. I bet they could also use other organizational items like big totes, or portable clothing racks, hangers, etc.

The donation center is pulling a bit of double duty- both emergency support items that displaced folks need, and some longer term recovery stuff for folks who might have lost homes. There is a mix then of donated clothes, household goods, and like hygiene consumables. They are trying to organize and separate things.

They really, really don't want food donated there. The concern is that it could attract rodents if they have to hold it before transferring to another place, and then they'd have a new problem with the rest of the donations. Water and gatorade are okay.

I think they are still trying to stand up the Omak donation center and will try to split supplies when that's ready for distribution....might shift/expand the needs at that time.

The closest Costco's are here in Spokane and Wenatchee...so getting bulk supplies like that up there could be super helpful.

Finally, a huge shout out to the Tribal volunteers running the donation sites. It's hot out there, its emotionally hard work, and it's drinking from the firehose for both inbound and outbound materials.

I'm proud of you Spokane and thank you for helping!

(PS I didn't ask permission from other folks who donated if they wanted their photos shared, but I know at least two redditors came down)

These folks have been in touch with the donation center for the Colville Tribes and are trying to a make supply drop today in Grand Coulee with a pick up truck or two.

I think the short fuse is to be really responsive to the immediate need, and avoid getting too much and complicating logistics.

Needs list:

Personal hygiene supplies (soap, shampoo, deodorant, feminine hygiene)

Laundry detergent

Dog and cat food

NEW underwear for all ages and sizes

NEW towels and wash cloths

If you want to help you, you can swing by a store and drop these items off today!

No valuables or id. Might belong to a kid? If you can identify where you lost it, let me know.