Malden fire timeline

Rosalia Fire Chief Bill Tensfeld, who is also the Whitman County Emergecy Management Director , points to one of the places near Malden, Washington where the fire which started on Labor Day 2020 forced him to stop his truck on the way to Malden that fateful day. Tensfeld was touring some of the places he traveled on the day of the fire Thursday, Aug. 3, 2021. Tensfeld was in Colfax monitoring two other fires that day, then drove to Malden through smoke and flames to see the damage.

Section:Gallery

Thu., Sept. 2, 2021

Shawn Thornton, right, and son Chris Thornton look over the rubble of their burned home and garage, including his work truck, left, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020 in Malden, Washington the day after a fast-moving wildfire swept through the tiny town west of Rosalia. Shawn and Shannon weren’t home at the time, but their son Cody was and managed to get their dog and a few belongings before leaving just minutes before the flames swept through, destroying their home, garage and multiple vehicles.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Day of the big fire - A brush crew attacks a hot spot along the Pine City-Malden Road, one mile east of Malden, Washington Monday, Sept. 5, 2020, the day of the wildfire that swept through the tiny town of Malden, Washington and destroying a majority of the structures there. The fire was pushed by strong winds from the north, burning some areas and sparing others.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Revi
Late in the afternoon on Sept. 7, 2020, the homes and possessions of the residents of the town of Malden, Wash., were still smoldering. The Babb Road Fire, driven by northerly winds, destroyed the majority of structures in the town.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Revi
Late in the afternoon, a utility post in the town of Malden, Washington is still smoldering, shown Sept. 7, 2020. The Labor Day fire, driven by northerly winds, destroyed the majority of structures in the town.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Revi
Late in the afternoon, a field of hay bales burn on the outskirts of the town of Malden, Washington, shown Sept. 7, 2020 the day a fire destroyed most of Malden. The Labor Day fire, driven by northerly winds, destroyed the majority of structures in the town.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Revi
Many residents of Malden, Washington lost everything, homes, cars, tools and mementos in the Labor Day 2020 fire that swept through the town, driven by northerly winds. Shown Sept. 8, 2020.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Revi
Many residents of Malden, Washington were tinkerers, collectors or restorers of old cars, boats and motorcycles and lost everything in the Labor Day 2020 fire that swept through the town, driven by northerly winds. Shown Sept. 8, 2020.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Revi
Rosalia Fire Chief Bill Tensfeld, who is also the Whitman County Emergecy Management Director , points to one of the places near Malden, Washington where the fire which started on Labor Day 2020 forced him to stop his truck on the way to Malden that fateful day. Tensfeld was touring some of the places he traveled on the day of the fire Thursday, Aug. 3, 2021. Tensfeld was in Colfax monitoring two other fires that day, then drove to Malden through smoke and flames to see the damage.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Revi