Two years later, Gray Fire survivor rebuilds dream on West Plains

MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. – Monday marks two years since the Gray Fire, one of the state’s most devastating wildfires. August 18, 2023, remains an unforgettable day for residents of Medical Lake and the surrounding West Plains.

The fire destroyed nearly 250 homes and claimed one life. Entire neighborhoods were leveled in a matter of hours. Months later, in February 2024, the cause was revealed: a sparking wire.

Nearly two years later, areas of devastation remain visible throughout the region. For many residents, the memory of the fire remains fresh.

Air Force veteran Sidney Rogers Jr. was golfing that day when his wife called him, saying a fire had started near their home next to Granite Lake.

“I told her there’s no way it’s going to get to you,” Rogers said.

Not even 15 minutes later, their home was in a Level 3 evacuation zone, meaning they needed to leave immediately.

“I had this false sense of security that we were probably safe from any fire unless it started right in our immediate valley,” Rogers said.

Rogers’ wife evacuated five children, grandchildren, foster kids and three dogs.

“My wife is a true hero in this. When she left, the fire was just on the edge of our property,” Rogers said.

They returned a week later to find their property scorched, but their home still standing. Smoke damage made it unlivable for some time.

What was wiped out, however, was a lifelong dream for Rogers after his years of military service.

“We had ten maple trees on each side going up that were all doing really well,” Rogers said. “That was the dream to have a maple tree driveway going up.”

That dream was put on pause indefinitely. Once they moved back home, the Rogers family began living life, always thinking of the what-ifs.

“Because you’re not going to think about it when it happens,” Rogers said.

Now two years later, a new chapter has begun in their lives as Rogers’ lifelong maple tree dream starts to take shape once again.

“We’re getting there. Hopefully, within a year or so we’ll have them all replaced,” Rogers said.

He’s slowly replanting and rebuilding that vision of a maple tree-lined driveway. Rogers says he hopes to have all the trees replaced within a year.