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After a hot and dry summer, a cold front arrived on Labor Day 2020 bringing strong winds and perfect conditions for fire spread. When a blaze ignited just north of the town of Malden residents had just minutes to escape before their town burned. Over the last year, residents have overcome problem after problem to begin recovering from a once in a lifetime disaster that took the things they held dear.
The National Weather Service Spokane issues a Red Flag Warning for Labor Day
Firefighters are dispatched to a brush fire in the town of Colfax
The Manning Road fire was reported just north of Colfax. Fire crews from all over the state are dispatched to the area
Just before noon, the Babb Road Fire was reported in Spokane County
Deputies had less than 30 minutes to evacuate the town of Malden befor the fire burned through the town. The wall of flame then continued to Pine City taking with more than 120 homes in the area. Firefighters couldn’t get into town for hours because the flames were too large.
First responders make their way into Malden to surveil the damage. Initial estimates are that 70% of the town burned. Fire crews work through the night to slow the spread of the blaze.
Crews continue to fight the fire while initial walkthroughs of the burned-out town begins. Eventually it would become clear that 80% of the town’s homes had been lost.
Gov. Jay Inslee visits Malden and offers cash assistance to the hundreds of residents impacted by the flames.
After about 10 days of checking names and calling residents, Whitman County Sheriff’s Deputies are able to confirm no one died in the flames.
Avista confirms that a tree fell on to their powerlines and ignited the Babb Road Fire.
Three months after the fire Malden and Pine City residents are still waiting for the federal government to respond to Gov. Jay Inslee's request to declare the fire a major disaster which would send millions in aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide temporary housing and help residents rebuild.
Residents of Malden and Pine City have a makeshift Christmas with many of them living in temporary housing or in RVs.
An aide to Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers says President Donald Trump is blocking aid to fire victims over a beef with Gov. Jay Inslee.
Days after his inauguration, President Joe Biden approves federal disaster assistance for Washington wildfires
Families move into the first homes rebuilt after the blaze, courtesy of Mennonite and Amish groups who volunteered to build two houses.
The Department of Natural Resources find the weakened tree near the Avista power lines needed a “closer inspection” to prevent the fire
State contractors finish cleaning up and removing trees in Malden just days ahead of the one year anniversary of the fire.
