Heroes of Horse Canyon; Locals stepping up to save homes, help victims in massive Eastern Washington wildfire

The trees were twisted and black and the ground was a study of ash and parched scrub and grass. Smoke hung like fog. But as the sun rose Thursday, Aug. 16, on day four of the massive Taylor Bridge wildlife, the heroes of Horse Canyon and their homes were safe.

Snoqualmie Valley Record Publisher William Shaw was an eyewitness to the aftermath of nature's devastating power. He experienced the Taylor Bridge fire as an anxious parent, helping on his son Liam's ranch after the fires wave of devastation passed.

Liam?a former Fall City and Issaquah resident? and his fiance, Natalie McGowan, and cousin Patrick Haggerty of North Bend, defended Liam's cattle ranch, located on Bettas Road in Horse Canyon east of Cle Elum. Ranches there were in the direct path of the fast-moving wildfire, which consumed more than 30,000 acres of rural land in the vicinity of Cle Elum and Ellensburg and more than 70 homes since it kindled Monday.

Shaw relates that he was amazed at the devastation. The fire swept up from the south. Neighbors had been ordered to evacuate, but several including Liam and his friends, family and neighbors stayed behind, guarding their homes. Neighbors stayed because they loved their farms and ranches, and didn't want to see them destroyed.

The younger Shaw had closely grazed his land in preparing for his and Natalie's upcoming wedding, and as part of his job demonstrating livestock fencing. That close crop, combined with frantic efforts with shovel, dozer, firewall, water truck, kept his home safe as the blaze approached. By Thursday morning, the fire had passed, leaving Liam's ranch an oasis of green in a desert of ash.

Local resources

The fire underscored connections between the Snoqualmie Valley and the greater Eastside, and neighbors across the Cascades.

Many Valley residents and business gave of their time and resources to help Kittitas County residents made homeless by the blaze, and the firefighters battling it.

Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce, Encompass Preschool, Hooper's Deli, Frankie's Pizza and Pet Place Market were among the Valley organizations trumpeting the need to react to the fire.

The North Bend McDonald's restaurant donated a pile of cheeseburgers and Big Macs; William Shaw hauled a load of the burgers to the volunteers.

"That was the first food those guys had," William Shaw said.

The Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce and Issaquah Chamber of Commerce are coordinating the delivery of donated supplies, both short-term and long-term, to the Kittitas Chamber of Commerce. Needed supplies include basic toiletries, clothing, bedding, cleaning supplies, food and water. Many of the destroyed homes were on farms with farm animals, so pet food, including food and supplies for livestock is sought. Because the start of school is imminent, school supplies are also being sought. Checks

Donated items can be dropped off at Encompass Preschool, 1407 Boalch Ave. N.W., North Bend, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Encompass will coordinate the collection and delivery of furniture and other large items, as well as a list of handymen and manual laborers who can contribute time to repair fences and otherwise clean up after the fire and haul large items to the families as needed.

If you have furniture to donate, e-mail to Encompass Stacey Cepeda, stacey.cepeda@encompassnw.org.

A donation drop-off site to help evacuated families has been set up at the Issaquah Hilton Garden Inn.

"We need to get the word out to West-siders" about the donation opportunity, said Amy McGuffin, a staffer with the Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce.

? To learn more about the Valley effort to help Kittitas County fire victims, visit http://encompassnw.org/DownFiles/DL677/2012%2008-16%20Central%20Washington%20wildfire%20donations.pdf

? Resources for residents affected by the Kittitas County wildfires can be found at http://www.kittitascountychamber.com/Chamber-Profile/fire-emergency-resources.html.

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Source: http://feeds.soundpublishing.com/~r/belall/~3/ijQKnjQ1e3k/166491086.html

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