SPOKANE, Wash. — Sarah Burgi’s home on Prosperity Lane stood as a testament to years of hard work and sacrifice. Now, it exists only in photographs and memory after the Old Trails Fire swept through the neighborhood, leaving behind ash and rubble.
Burgi was on a trip to Canada with her two children. She returned Friday night before the fire broke out on Saturday giving her time to grab what mattered most: her beloved cat, important documents, and a few extra clothes. Everything else burned.
“I have a few extra clothes and we have our animals and our important documents. I’m really really lucky,” Burgi said. “Some of my neighbors were out of town. Some of them didn’t even know until after it had happened.”
The fire moved with terrifying speed across the landscape. When Burgi saw smoke in the afternoon, she didn’t initially grasp the danger. That changed quickly. Her son Ryan and some neighbors attempted to create a fire line between a nearby field and the row of homes on Prosperity Lane, hoping to slow the advancing flames. Their efforts proved futile against the fire’s intensity.
Today was the first time Burgi had seen her home since it burned down. Standing amid the devastation, the reality of her loss became impossible to ignore.
“It’s really hard to see everything we built gone,” Burgi said. “It’s just really hard.”
Burgi’s 9-year-old daughter, Allicyn, lived in the home with her. The loss extends beyond the physical structure and possessions. Allicyn told her mother that she feels her childhood is gone—a sentiment that captures the emotional toll of losing a family home.
Among the hardest losses for Burgi is the destruction of her late father’s records, documents that held irreplaceable sentimental and personal value. These items cannot be replaced with insurance money or new purchases.
While Burgi acknowledges that material possessions can eventually be replaced, the emotional weight of losing her home cuts deeper.
“I know it’s just things, but I’m a single mom and I worked really hard to build this life for us and it’s all that effort, all of it,” Burgi said. “And granted we had great memories doing it. But it wasn’t easy.”
Burgi’s sister, Ann-Marie, was there to help her dig through the ashes and sort through what remained. The support from family has been crucial during these early days of recovery.
“Devastated for her. Single mom and she’s worked so hard,” Ann Marie said. “So, I’m trying to be here for her every step of the way.”
The road to recovery will be long. Burgi and her family plan to return to the property with shovels to recover what they can from the debris. For now, they are staying with family in Diamond Lake while she searches for a new home.
What sustains Burgi through this crisis is the outpouring of support from her community and friends and family from afar. The response has been overwhelming and unexpected, providing both practical help and emotional encouragement during an impossibly difficult time.
Burgi’s message to others facing similar disasters is simple but powerful: don’t hesitate to ask for help and accept it when offered.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Burgi said. “I think that’s the biggest thing—is that no one’s alone. Accept the help.”
As residents of Prosperity Lane and surrounding areas begin the long process of assessing damage and planning rebuilds, stories like Burgi’s remind the community of both the fire’s devastating impact and the resilience of those determined to move forward.
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