An NPR member station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Fire Community Bands Together For Resources, Animals, Mental Health

The Carlton Complex of fires has consumed 300 homes in north-central Washington, according to the Okanogan County sheriff Friday. It’s too soon for many people to know what they lost in the fire, including homes, orchards, livestock, or pets. Fire spokesperson Joni Quarnstrom says other counties have stepped in to help.

Quarnstrom “They really are starting to focus on mental health of people in the community, and that’s everybody in the community. Even if your house wasn’t burned, you’ve just gone through a major ordeal, either watching your neighbor’s home burn or worrying about your own house.”

Today in towns like Carlton, Pateros, and Okanogan residents are banding together. They’re organizing deliveries for food and tools, and helping people in neighboring towns. Facebook has become a major resource. The Okanogan County Fire Contact Page is the unofficial directory for lists of needed items, lost and found animals, and alerts for residents.

For example, a man posted Friday afternoon that he had found two sweet dogs, one retriever and one mix, and is looking for the owner. Another person asked for a two-horse trailer for a potential horse rescue. An earlier post was about assistance in removing animal carcasses, which is one more things on the minds of ranchers.

Copyright 2014 Spokane Public Radio

Related Content