KETTLE FALLS, Wash. — A local rancher is expecting to return to hundreds of thousands of dollars-worth of damage after a large wildfire burned across his property in Stevens County.
Allen Hubbard lives in Spokane and owns a 150-acre ranch, about 100 miles away near Kettle Falls. He learned about the wildfire while driving his girlfriend home from brain surgery on Tuesday. The fire started just a few miles from his ranch, initially giving him confidence his property would be safe.
“We saw the report of the fire starting, and it was about five miles away. And so, I felt we were pretty safe,” Hubbard said.
The wildfire, known as the Hope Fire, has now burned 6,500 acres, or roughly 10 square miles, with 0% containment, as of Sunday afternoon. The fire is burning 15 miles north of Kettle Falls and 5 miles southwest of Northport.
Hubbard had five game cameras positioned around his property that automatically capture images when they detect heat or movement. Through these cameras, he watched his land disappear into what he described as “a white, hot flash.”
“Here we were mowing down all the tall grass, so if there was a fire, we’d try to keep it from spreading,” Hubbard said. “We were hopeful that maybe had saved some of the buildings, but the fire was so intense. It was just a wall of fire that came across the field,” he said.
The fire destroyed everything on Hubbard’s ranch, including multiple buildings. He estimates the damage at $450,000.
“It completely burned. Over 150 acres of my ranch. Took out every building and there’s pretty much nothing left to work with now,” Hubbard said.
Because evacuation orders remain in effect, Hubbard has not been able to visit his property in person. However, he continues monitoring through two game cameras that survived the fire, which now show confused deer and other wildlife wandering through the burned landscape.
Hubbard said the fire has stripped the beauty away from an area he has loved for years.
“Right now it’s going to be a lot of digging through stuff to see if there’s anything that is salvageable and then hauling the rest,” Hubbard said.
As of Sunday afternoon, Level 1 (BE READY), Level 2 (GET SET) and Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuations are still in place for those near the Hope Fire.
Check this article for the latest evacuation maps and details on the Hope Fire.
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