Cold Springs wildfire victims meet at Okanogan County Fairgrounds

OKANOGAN – Scores of Cold Springs wildfire victims gathered at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds for the first of what will be many information meetings during the long recovery process ahead.

The meeting was organized by Okanogan Emergency Management (OEM) and the Colville Tribal Emergency Operations Center. Larry Robinette, the Colville Tribes Manager of the Area Agency on Aging (AAOA), and OEM Director Maurice Goodall moderated the meeting and introduced featured speakers.

Among a host of topics discussed were site damage assessments, property tax adjustments, burn debris removal, financial assistance, supply locations, potential flooding, road and tree issues, and more.

Okanogan County Assessor Larry Gilman advised attendees that his office is working on property reassessments for those who sustained losses in the fire, but the process will take time.

“Here’s the bad thing,” said Gilman. “the timing of this disaster weighs on your taxes.”

Gilman encouraged everyone to pay the last half property taxes as usual because his office has no authority to cancel or waive penalties for late payments. Rather he recommended payment of taxes on time and refunds for adjusted values will be made later as his office completes the damage assessments.

Gilman who witnessed the process following the 2014-15 wildfires also encouraged fire victims to bear with the process and work with the various layers of agencies gathering damage and loss information.

“There’s a lot of work yet to be done,” said Gilman, “but the more you sign your name to something the more opportunity for you to get something in return.”

A representative from the Department of Labor and Industries cautioned fire victims to check references of contractors offering rebuild services for licensed and certified status to avoid being scammed.

Okanogan County Commissioner for District 3, Chris Branch said he is drafting a measure that will allow fire victims to dispose of burn debris at the Okanogan landfill without charge.

Ben Carroll Range Planner for the Okanogan Conservation District discussed fence, crop, pasture losses and potential post-fire flooding. Carroll asked agriculturalists to visit okanogancd.org and complete a loss form to help the district request restoration funds.

Goodall cautioned fire victims to have their domestic water sources tested for possible contamination of their drinking water.

Lael Duncan, Executive Director of the Okanogan County Community Action Council (occac.com) said her agency offers grant program assistance for veterans and to low-and moderate-income households.

Okanogan Fairgrounds manager Naomi Peasley said that livestock began arriving at the complex at 12:38 a.m., Monday morning, Sept. 7, as the fire was expanding. Peasley said supplies began pouring in as well and those who sustained losses can access a variety of animal feed - including hay and straw - and supplies stored at the fairgrounds to replace some of the lost items.

Pateros Mayor Carlene Anders who also serves as Executive Director of the Okanogan Complex Long Term Recovery Group (OCLTRG) brought the benefit of her experience working with survivors of the 2014-15 wildfires.

Anders stressed the need for fire victims to be individually proactive and comprehensive in documenting all losses as part of an initial assessment (IA) to secure as many mitigation dollars as possible. Assessment specialists unfamiliar with the area can overlook damages that victims would report Anders said. She used an example of homes missed during the IA after the 2014 Carlton Complex wildfire as an example.

“We had 174 homes that were missed in the first assessment in 2014 when they did the drive-by assessment,” said Anders. “In 2015 we made sure that didn’t happen.”

Anders also urged residents to cap off, pipe off, or otherwise protect water, utility, and other underground connections to avoid further damage and so they can be found later.

“What we saw after the first winter was when people came and cleared the debris they knocked over all those pieces where you connected in,” said Anders, “and they could not find them in the spring after runoff.”

Jessica Rounds, an experienced OCLTRG Disaster Case Manager who worked with survivors of the 2014-15 wildfires advised caution in handling burn debris. She recommended that debris sites be accessed by someone wearing proper hazard protection and selective debris removed and sifted away from the burn site.

A Red Cross representative explained the agency’s role in the area fires and distributed soil sifting frames for use at burn sites.

All who spoke urged fire victims to be patient with the process but proactive in their responses to seek help and fully document their losses.