MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. — Community members have come together to pick up the pieces, more than two months after the devastating fires in Medical Lake.
A special group of volunteers are continuing wildfire recovery to clean up burnt trees, destroyed homes, and charred grounds. The Medical Lake Tree and Debris Removal Committee came together soon after the devastating Gray Fire.
Organizer Ron Burris said he organized the cleanup in about four weeks.
"We're a volunteer group trying to help the citizens of Medical Lake by getting rid of the trees that were burnt because they are all going to come down," Burris said.
The group currently has three meet-ups scheduled. Volunteers prioritized sawing down trees and removing tree limbs. In the following weeks, people will come together to remove any remaining debris.
"I feel like helping is what the community needs. It's what we should do. We should help one another," said volunteer Courtney Wheeler.
Removing burnt trees helps clear the area for rebuilding before the weather gets too cold. More than 20 volunteers from Medical Lake and Spokane came out to Saturday's event.
"We see a lot more smiles. Those first few weeks were some pretty somber looks. Now people are smiling at the sense of community," Medical Lake Mayor Terri Cooper said. "It's just been incredible."
There will be another wildfire recovery event on Saturday, Nov. 4. For more information, click here.
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