Spokane-area teens postpone backpacking trip to help neighbors after wildfire

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Spokane-area teens postpone backpacking trip to help neighbors after wildfire

Spokane teens from two Latter-day Saint congregations postponed a Montana trip to help neighbors recover from the Fairview Fire by clearing debris and burned trees. 

By Jennifer Hicks | For FāVS News

SPOKANE, Washington — A group of Spokane-area teenagers preparing to leave for a summer backpacking trip to Montana changed their plans after seeing what the Fairview Fire had done to their neighbors.

Instead of heading out on their annual trip, the young men from two congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints postponed their departure and spent the day clearing burned trees, brush and debris from properties affected by the fire.

The Fairview Fire, part of the Spokane Complex Fires that swept through eastern Washington beginning Aug. 1, left neighborhoods scarred by burned homes, damaged property and blackened vegetation.

For the teenagers, seeing the destruction up close made an immediate impression.

“It was crazy to see all the damage,” said Bennett McKell, one of the young men who volunteered. “The guys were pretty quiet when we first saw everything that had burned down. It was a good reminder to be prepared for emergencies and grateful for what we have.”

Working with adult leaders and other volunteers, the teens hauled debris, removed burned vegetation and cut fallen and damaged trees. Following recommendations from firefighters, volunteers also worked to create defensible space around surviving homes to reduce future wildfire risk.

‘They just came to help’

Chelsea McKell, whose two sons participated in the effort, said some homeowners were surprised to see so many people arrive ready to work.

“They were amazed that a group of men and young men simply showed up after the disaster and worked all day,” she said. “They didn’t ask for recognition. They just came to help.”

One of the properties where they worked belonged to Robert L. Sanders, a local leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sanders had evacuated as flames burned on both sides of the road leading away from his home. He later received word that the house was believed to have been destroyed.

When he was eventually able to return, he found a much different scene. Fire had burned almost to his front door. The welcome mat was scorched, and his shop and portions of the property had been destroyed, but the house was still standing.

“When I drove away, I truly didn’t expect to see my home again,” Sanders said. “While we lost much of our property, I felt a deep sense of gratitude — not just for what was spared, but for the opportunity to continue serving others.”

Bearing one another’s burdens

Sanders said seeing teenagers give up their own plans to help families affected by the fire was particularly meaningful.

“They strengthened our family and blessed our neighbors,” he said. “They reminded all of us that hope grows when we bear one another’s burdens.”

The volunteers also assisted other properties in the neighborhood, part of a larger community response that has brought together residents, churches, nonprofit organizations and emergency responders throughout the Spokane area.

For the young men, the decision meant putting an anticipated summer adventure on hold. But their leaders and families said the experience offered a different kind of adventure — one centered on helping people at a moment when they needed it most.

Amid burned trees and damaged homes, volunteers worked shoulder to shoulder for hours.

For families beginning what may be a long recovery, their presence offered a simple reminder: When disaster strikes, sometimes the most meaningful help comes from neighbors willing to show up.

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