Slide Ranch fire near White Swan nearly contained; 17 houses destroyed, 10 damaged | Local

WHITE SWAN — Cliff Deane and his Yakama Power linemen were almost finished restoring power to customers affected by the 1980 Slide Ranch wildfire on the Yakama Reservation. It was Tuesday afternoon; the fire broke out Saturday afternoon.

He did not know exactly how many Yakama Power customers were affected by fire-related power outages. Deane and the dozen linemen hadn't returned to the office, or home, or anywhere else. Most had been on the job for more than 70 hours, taking naps when they could and gratefully accepting the much-appreciated meals, snacks and water brought to them by residents and volunteers.

The fire, fanned by wind, destroyed 17 homes and damaged 10 others, according to information on the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center website. Although the investigation is still ongoing, the fire was caused by humans, he said. As of Wednesday morning, the Slide Ranch Fire was 75% contained and had consumed 3,054 acres, the website said.

It started around 3:46 p.m. Saturday about 4 miles south of White Swan. The fire started near Mission, Signal Peak and Pom Pom roads and quickly spread north and then east, through dry grass and sagebrush and into trees. Several fire crews and planes responded from across the region.

The fleeing residents had no time to think about what to take with them. As some return to their damaged homes and consider the possibility of returning in the near future, those who lost their homes and everything they owned are filling out paperwork in hopes of receiving emergency housing, aid financial and other.

Great answer

The Yakama Nation, area businesses and individuals have stepped up to help those in need. Displaced families were able to stay at the Legends Casino Hotel and obtain fuel cards courtesy of Yakamart and Yakama Forest Products. Citizens of the Yakama Tribe can receive emergency assistance through Yakama Nation Social Services. Yakamart provided food to the firefighters.

Volunteers from the White Swan Community Center distributed clothing, shoes and supplies. They cooked and delivered meals to affected families and seniors. Community organizations provided affected families, firefighters and other emergency responders with meals, snacks, water and other relief.

The American Red Cross sheltered people at Harrah School and others stayed at the Toppenish Creek Longhouse on Mission Road – which the fire threatened, as well as the nearby White Swan Lodge.

Clothing and shoes, food and water, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items were provided to residents staying in the longhouse. They were able to use the showers, collect needed items and get updates from firefighters and other emergency responders throughout the region, who were greeted with meals, water and other support services.

In addition to the activities and items available at the Toppenish Creek Longhouse, the White Swan Community Center was a busy place. Yakama Forest Products allowed their barbecue to be used there and salmon and beef were donated. The Peacekeeper Society dropped off donations of pet and animal food. Applications are not required.

Wheeler's Smoke-N-Gas at 7453 Sunnyside-Mabton Road and Wheeler's Kountry Korner are accepting donations of clothing, non-perishable food and hygiene products. The owners and staff of the Cougar Den in White Swan have reached out to affected families and provided support.

Community members and organizations have supported those who have helped, including the longhouse. George Lee Jr., the spiritual leader of the Toppenish Creek Longhouse, said the Yakama Warriors Association donated $500 to the longhouse. That will be used to purchase water and more supplies.

Lee also organized with Freedom Pantry For Veterans the food distribution at the longhouse Wednesday afternoon. The Yakima-based nonprofit provides nonperishable groceries, household items, pet food, toiletries, clothing, food and gas cards to veterans and service members in need.

Items distributed Wednesday included salmon, empanadas, chicken tenders, ground turkey, salmon, frozen meal kits and water.

As people rebuild their lives after the fire, the longhouse will remain open “as long as we need it,” Lee said. This includes spiritual and physical needs. People are always welcome to come and pray.

This is all part of the role of the longhouse. “It's a community house. We're open to the community,” he said.

Non-stop work

Yakama Power crews first shut off electrical power to the fire zones to ensure the safety of firefighters and other emergency responders. Once the fire zones were extinguished, they moved in to replace the poles and power lines.

Deane and his linemen were called to work around 4 p.m. Saturday. “Four of us embarked on this little adventure,” Deane said. “We went out and, seeing all the devastation that was going on, we called four other guys and told them to do what we could. … We picked up a few more (Monday) that hadn't worked all weekend- end.

That's “pretty much” the entire crew of 11 linemen, he added.

“Many of us have been working on this system for a long time, so we know where to go to turn off the power. We just tried to clear the system as best we could to make it safe for the firefighters. They often have no idea if the lines are live. »

Power poles were down along stretches of Shaker Church, Marion Drain and other area roads, Deane said. As firefighters put out the fire in some areas, linemen arrived with loads of poles and equipment and began rebuilding the power lines.

“We start where we can attract the most customers. That's kind of how we choose and we go from there.”

Yakama Power workers sincerely appreciate those who provided them with food, water and other support while on the job.

“One of the guys we work with, Joey Sampson, his wife really stepped up and she cooked a lot for us. She fed us pretty well. It was really great,” Deane said. “There were several people, friends, they stopped and fed us. They called every four or five hours (and asked) do you need anything? Water, anything?

He is also grateful to the firefighters. Deane lives just outside White Swan and knows many of the people affected by the fire.

“Several very good friends, their homes were really threatened but luckily they got it in time,” he said.