Fire recovery groups review eight years of rebuilds, replacements

PATEROS – The three home dedications in Monse, Bridgeport, and Coulee City by the Okanogan County Long Term Recovery Group (OCLTRG) on April 28-29 were just the latest in an eight-year campaign to get wildfire survivors back into rebuilt residences.

A look back over the work begun by the original Carlton Complex Long Term Recovery (CCLTR) on Jan. 1, 2015, and continued by the renamed OCLTRG reveals years of accomplishments for scores of families.

Home Rebuilds/Replacements

• 1 bedroom (2014) 1 (2015) 2

• 2 bedrooms (2014) 11 (2015) 8 (2020) 7

• 4 bedrooms (2015) 2 (2020) 2

• Unique builds (2014) 2 (2015) 2

• Manufactured homes (2014) 7 (2015) 2

Total: (2014) 21 (2015) 17 (2020) 9

Rebuild Stats

• Veterans (2014) 4 (2015) 3 (2020) 4

• Total People Housed (2014) 41 (2015) 32 (2020) 16

Rebuilds with Colville Confederated Tribes

• Tribal member and Reservation land (2015) 3 (2020) 3

• Non-Tribal member, Reservation land (2015) 1 (2020) 3

Total: (2014) 4 of 17 (2020) 6 of 9

Sign to Save Program (given out primarily in Okanogan, Douglas, and Chelan counties)

• Orders 1,260. Total 1,568

In 2014-2015 the average cost per home was $72,000 excluding unique and multi-family houses.

In 2020 the average cost of the first eight homes, some not fully complete, was $117,000.

Shifting to more contractors to finish the last two homes has increased the estimated pricing. The eighth home is currently at $148,000.

Nine of the homes built were off the grid (solar), seven of those in 2014-15, and two in 2020.

Four of the rebuild clients have passed away. All but two homes are still occupied by the original survivors, two of the deceased clients have their family owning the properties.

The Community Foundation of North Central Washington started as the CCLTR fiscal sponsor.