Officials promise to rebuild in White Swan

WHITE SWAN -- Residents here are continuing to slowly pick up the charred pieces of their lives in the wake of Saturday's fire that destroyed about 18 homes. But it will be a long time before some people have homes to return to.

Power returned to part of White Swan on Monday, and school is expected to resume today after classes were canceled Monday. Owners tiptoed through the remains of their homes with insurance agents, and maintenance crews hauled away limbs and debris.

Officials for the Yakama Nation promised to rebuild the unincorporated reservation community west of Toppenish, though they warned it would take months.

"A beautiful White Swan is in order," said Harry Smiskin, chairman of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council, at a news conference at tribal headquarters in Toppenish.

Smiskin estimated it could cost $4 million or more to rebuild the houses.

Thousands of logs stashed at a chipping business will continue to burn for a few more days, said Allen Walker, deputy chief of Yakima County Fire District No. 5.

Initial reports indicated the blaze started as a chimney fire at a home on Hitchcock Lane, though the Yakima County fire marshal's office is still investigating the origin. State officials probably will investigate, too, which is common when damage estimates exceed $1 million, Walker said.

Firefighters also are still trying to assess the blaze's damage. Initial reports put the number at 20 homes destroyed, though it's more likely 18, said Landon Lommers, battalion chief of Fire District 5.

"We're still in the process of nailing down the official number," Lommers said.

County road crews and Yakama Nation fire management employees spent the day Monday trimming back tree limbs and hauling away snapped tree trunks. The fire ran along a thickly wooded creek bed before hitting the community, which has numerous trees, enabling the fire to spread in winds that topped 50 mph.

"After this, I think I'm going to get rid of (her trees)," said Norine Cook, a 74-year-old resident of Coburn Loop. Her house was saved, but a trailer home next door was destroyed.

Tribal officials asked visitors to stay away unless they had specific plans to help, criticizing lookers-on who came only to take pictures, Smiskin said.

"Please leave the people out there alone," he said. "We don't need any lookie-loos out there."

Also, they suspect many of the homes had asbestos and worry about air quality.

Help is coming

Meanwhile, well-wishers near and far are offering help.

The tribe expects to receive 10 to 15 emergency furnished trailers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Yakama Nation has set up a fund at Bank of America for financial donations, which officials will use to help both the displaced families and those that take in extended family members. A few displaced families are in motels but most are staying with relatives. Evacuation shelters have closed.

Smiskin said tribal officials have received reports of possible scams by people on Toppenish street corners collecting money for the White Swan fire victims.

Also, coaches at Riverside Christian High School, a basketball rival of White Swan, loaned their gymnasium to the playoff-bound Cougars on Sunday. It was a welcome distraction for the players, said Angelina Sampson, mother of sophomore player Alex Sampson.

"Riverside Christian is our biggest rival this year, but they were the first ones to come in here and give us support," she said.

Families involved with Riverside Christian also brought carloads of food and clothing, which will be distributed through White Swan churches, Sampson said.

Nearby Wapato High School's boys and girls basketball teams have organized a spaghetti feed to help the White Swan fire victims; it will be from 5:30-8 p.m. today at the Wapato High School cafeteria.

A church on the Umatilla Reservation in Oregon plans to drive up a truck full of clothing and household goods later this week, said the Rev. Jack Schut, pastor of Tutuilla Presbyterian Church. He said many of his congregants have family and friends in White Swan.

Grandview students are collecting donations for a drop-off today.

Selfless police officer

Among those who lost their home was Patrick Rogers, a tribal police officer who evacuated several of his neighbors on Coburn Loop before trying to fight back the flames at his own house with a garden hose.

"No one knew that there was a fire and that it was coming that way," said his wife, Serena Watlamett. She added that tribal law enforcement rules prevent her husband from commenting.

Watlamett and their 7-month-old daughter, Alonna, packed up and went to her parents' house. Rogers and his father-in-law, Pernell Watlamett, stayed to try to save the house, which Pernell Watlamett owns.

Neighbors up and down the street pitched in to help, Serena Watlamett said.

"Pat wasn't the only hero out there," she said. "He was just doing his job."

Neighbor Jack Olney agreed, pointing out where residents used their backhoes to try to bury flames and build fire breaks.

"We didn't want to see him lose his house," he said.

* Ross Courtney can be reached at 509-930-8798 or rcourtney@yakimaherald.com.

How to help

Several places are accepting donations of money, clothing and other useful items for families affected by Saturday's fire. Officials say the greatest needs are for children's clothing and diapers. Locations and fundraisers include:

* Toppenish Armory, 326 S. Division St. The armory also will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner today.

* In Yakima, Mike O'Halloran State Farm Insurance is accepting any and all essentials from clothing (new and gently used), toiletries, toys, small furniture and diapers between 8 and 5 p.m. The office is in Nob Hill Plaza, behind Blockbuster.

* White Swan Methodist Church.

* Winter House in White Swan.

* The Trading Post in White Swan.

* EZ bucks in Toppenish and Wapato.

* Top Stop in Toppenish.

* The Yakama Nation has set up a bank account at Bank of America called White Swan Fire Relief Fund.

* The Wapato High School boys and girls basketball teams will hold a spaghetti fundraiser dinner from 5:30-8 p.m. today in the Wapato High School cafeteria.