MALDEN, Wash. — It's been three and half years since the Babb Road fire destroyed 85% of the town of Malden, including the post office and fire station.
Shortly after the fire, Malden residents said the top three things they wanted to bring back to the town were internet, trees and the post office. On Thursday, the town was able to brag it accomplished all three of those things, celebrating the ribbon cutting for its new municipal building.
The road to recovery hasn't been easy for the towns of Malden and Pine City, but the community continues to make progress one day at a time.
The ribbon cutting for Malden's new municipal building is a huge win for the town. The Babb Road fire destroyed Malden's fire station and only fire truck, along with its town hall and post office. The new municipal building, after several cheerful cuts to the ribbon, will house Malden's fire station, town hall and post office.
Around the corner is the new town hall, where the community will continuing working on its plans to rebuild.
On Thursday, Malden's wisest resident, 93-year-old Jim Jacobs, received the first key to the first mailbox.
"I'm an honored citizen," he said.
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