MALDEN, Wash. — Nearly four years after a devastating wildfire swept through the small town of Malden, residents are preparing to reopen the essential buildings the town has long been without.
The Pine Creek Community Restoration Long Term Recovery Organization (LTRO) and the town of Malden are hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the town's new municipal building. The building contains the town's new fire station, town hall and post office. The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which is set to take place on Feb. 15, 2024.
It was during Labor Day 2020 when the Babb Road Fire destroyed the towns of Malden and Pine City in just a few hours. Wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour sent the fire across 15,000 acres. More than 85% of all the buildings, including homes, the fire station and post office, burned to the ground. In total, the fire burned more than 18,000 acres.
Since then, the town has been working to rebuild everything that was lost. Grant funding from the Washington state Department of Commerce and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was used to replace the original buildings lost in the fire, which are now ready to unveil to the public.
The town is also getting ready to start construction on a new community center, foodbank and library this spring.
"I am proud of the work our community members, with the help of many outside agencies and individuals, have accomplished since the devastating wildfire of September 7, 2020. I hope folks will come and celebrate with us,” Malden Mayor Dan Harwood said. “I’d like to welcome everyone to the newest town in the state of Washington.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new municipal building will start at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 14 West Moreland Avenue in Malden. The event is open to the public. Any questions about the ribbon-cutting ceremony should be directed to Malden Town Hall by calling 509-569-3771.
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