The Gray fire Medical Lake

 I went walking in Medical Lake a couple of days ago to witness the devastation visited on this little town by the Gray fire. I parked at the lake front park walked up the road toward town, turned right, turned right again and walked into what looked like a war zone. Where houses once stood charred remains between houses unscathed. Blocks where one side of the street looked untouched while across the street there was nothing left but foundations and charred appliances and lots of parked blackened metal that used to be cars. I spent quite a while speaking with Annette one of the lucky ones who's house was sparred. She spoke of running home to save her 2 dogs and 4 cats as the fire barreled toward them. Having just minutes they came into the house to find 3 of the cats sitting at the slider door fascinated by a tree in the backyard lighting up like a match. She spoke of the bravery of some of her neighbors standing their ground and fighting the fire to save their houses. She spoke of a 20 something young man running from house to house helping get the elderly and infirm out and helping get the pets out. Hel helped her get one of her cats from under the bed. She didn't get his name but is so thankful for all he did. Her dogs Anha and Tankerbell waited patiently across the street from us in stark contrast to the frenzied activity of a couple of days prior. Annette also spoke proudly of what a tight knit group of people the neighborhood is, how they take care of each other. Medical Lake will rebuild, houses will go back up to replace the ones burnt down and will be even a tighter knit group of people for all that they have been through together. #grayfire #medicallake #medicallakefire #medicallakewashington #spokanewashington #spokane #wildfire