DOUGLAS COUNTY, Wash. — For more than 100 years, Darlene Caldwell's home in Bridgeport has weathered every storm. But the recent flames from the Cold Springs Canyon and Pearl Hill Fire are unlike anything Caldwell has ever seen.
“And it could’ve been stopped but there’s no helicopters. There’s no anything,” Caldwell said.
Everywhere she looks, there’s ash falling from the sky and smoke is filling the air. Her backyard has become a rapid inferno destroying everything in its path.
“The neighbor up the road had a beautiful log home and it’s gone. Their log home, the barn on the other canyon is wiped totally out and they can’t find their horses. Their cows are here at my place," she said.
For hours, Caldwell and her family were left wondering if their home would be next. She’s already seen her cousin’s property destroyed because of this fire.
Her 99-year-old father had to evacuate his property before that was engulfed with flames.
A road closure also held up firefighters trying to get to the flames.
”If they could’ve got here, they would have got to my cousin's house and those people with the log home and the other things,” Caldwell said. “They would’ve all had their stuff.”
During some of the most frightening moments of her life, help finally arrived.
Fire crews from Benton County and Pasco came to assist and keep a line around her home.
Now, she’s just hoping the damage doesn’t continue to spread. On top of the fire, the fields she uses to feed her cattle may be severely impacted.
“It should’ve been stopped way over there and it would’ve been if we had fire trucks over there like we used to have. And I know they’re busy. I know there’s so many fires and all these things are happening and other people are losing things. But as you see, I hope I have that in the morning," she said, referring to her home.