‘We don’t have to suffer anymore.’ Oregon Road Fire survivor moves into new home more than 17 months later

ELK, Wash. — It’s been nearly a year and a half since the Oregon Road Fire devastated the Elk community in north Spokane County.

Rose Hutchinson and her son lost everything in the fire: their home, their memories and so much more.

“It’s been quite the journey for us. We struggled a lot,” she said.

We met Rose around this time last year. At the time, she told 4 News Now that she was underinsured, and she didn’t know how they could ever afford to rebuild.

So, for almost two winters, Rose and her son were left out in the bitter cold, living in an RV. To keep warm, they used electric blankets and a space heater.

Then, after a long, hard battle, she was finally able to purchase a new home. She and her son moved into it late last month.

“I broke down crying, thinking that we don’t have to suffer anymore,” she said. “We don’t have to be out in the cold.”

She and her son finally have their own rooms, and a kitchen she can bake in again.

They said it was the little things they missed the most, and they are looking forward to the future.

“I love it, and now we’re going to build more memories, new memories,” Hutchinson said.