MALDEN, Wash. – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers joined Governor Jay Inslee on a tour of the damage left behind after the Labor Day wildfires swept through Malden and Pine City.
In a statement on Thursday, Sept. 10, McMorris Rodgers said, “It took my breath away to see the devastation in Malden and Pine City today.
She went on to note that 85 homes, the city hall, post office and fire station are all gone, along with surrounding farmlands. Although, thankfully, no lives were lost as residents were forced to evacuate in a matter of minutes.
“It’s a tribute to neighbor helping neighbor,” she said.
McMorris Rodgers also said that she and her team will continue working to support recovery efforts. Once Inslee also makes an official request for federal assistance, she said she will work to ensure federal resources are also available as communities rebuild.
McMorris Rodgers’ full statement can be read here:
“It took my breath away to see the devastation in Malden and Pine City today. The city hall, post office, and fire station are all gone. 85 homes and surrounding farmland are destroyed, too. The community church up on the hill still stood despite fire damage on the backside. People had no time to prepare. They saw the fire. The next minute Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers and Malden Mayor Chris Ferrell urged everyone to evacuate. They literally had only minutes. It’s a miracle no lives were lost. It’s a tribute to neighbor helping neighbor. I thank all who have responded — firefighters, local officials, the veteran center, the Red Cross, and many more. My team and I will continue working to support recovery efforts however we can. Once Governor Inslee makes the official request for federal assistance, as is required, I will work to ensure federal resources are available to help our communities rebuild.”
