Colville Reservation fire recovery

After fires burn through Colville Reservation, efforts are underway to recover, adapt.

Section:Gallery

Sun., Sept. 27, 2020

“The reality is I still have a home, but it’s just ashes,” said Jimmy Timentwa, at the site where his house was destroyed in a fast-moving wildfire in early September during the Cold Springs Fire near Omak. “I’m living in the dirt now,” he said.

Colin Mulvany
Elaine Emerson, on left, and Karen Condon sift through the remains of Emerson's brother, Jimmy Timentwa's home that was destroyed in the Cold Springs Fire near Omak on Sept. 7, 2020. Emerson, who lived next door, also lost her home to the fast-moving wildfire. "You could see the flames move like a monster trying to devour things," said Emerson.

Colin Mulvany
Robert Sam, 15, left, and Fred Charles collect metal items recovered from their relative Jimmy Timentwa’s home that was destroyed Sept. 7 in the Cold Springs Fire near Omak.

Colin Mulvany
Elaine Emerson, who lost her home in the Cold Springs Fire near Omak on Sept. 7, saved her cherished weaved baskets that she and her ancestors made. “You could see the flames move like a monster trying to devour things,” said Emerson, who fled the fire with her brother Jimmy Timentwa, who lived next door and also lost his house to the wildfire.

Colin Mulvany
Angeline Red House-Whiting visits her Malott, Wash., rental home that was destroyed in the Cold Springs Wildfire on Sept., 7, 2020.

Colin Mulvany
All that remains of Jimmy Timentwa's home is bits and pieces of metal that he and relatives have been collecting and sending to a local recycler. Timentwa lost his house lat Sept 7, 2020, in a fast-moving wildfire in early Sept. during the Cold Springs Fire near Omak, Wash. "Im living in the dirt now," he said.

Colin Mulvany
Aaron Sutton, center, speaks with Joel Boyd, vice chair of the Colville Business Council, on Thursday, Sept. 17, about the loss of his home 10 days earlier, in the Inchelium Highway Fire. Sutton's son, Solace, stands to his left.

Ted Mcdermott