The Pine Creek Community Long-Term Recovery Organization

On September 7, 2020 wildfires raged through northern Whitman County, Washington, fanned by wind gusts as high as 70 mph. The Babb Road Fire consumed more than 15,000 acres of Palouse farmland and habitat and engulfed the towns of Malden and Pine City, forcing nearly 200 residents to evacuate.

The fast-moving fire consumed the Town of Malden in 2 ½ hours, spewing briquette-sized embers and destroying 80% of the Town’s buildings, many down to their foundations. Among the rubble are the majority of homes and the town’s only post office, town hall, fire station, food bank, and library.

Eighty  percent of the homes and buildings were burned, many down to their foundations, leaving the streets in rubble. The community was most fortunate that there was no loss of human life.

In the aftermath of the fire, community leaders came together to think about the future. How will we recover? How will we be better prepared for the next crisis?

The outcome of these conversations is the Pine Creek Community Restoration Long Term Recovery Organization (LTRO). The LTRO has been dedicated to learning about the impacts of the fire, securing resources to help individuals and families, and mapping a pathway to recovery.

Our Mission

The Pine Creek Community Restoration Long Term Recovery Organization is a 501(c)3 formed exclusively for the following charitable purposes for Malden, Pine City, and the surrounding areas in Whitman County, Washington, that were devastated by the Babb Road Fire on September 7, 2020:

  1. To provide coordinated management of the long-term recovery process after the disaster and provide relief to the distressed.
  2. To provide long-term assistance to qualified individuals affected by a disaster.
  3. To assist disaster survivors with preparedness and mitigation.
  4. To provide advocacy for people most vulnerable to having their needs overlooked in disaster recovery process.
  5. To do everything necessary, proper, convenient or incidental to the accomplishment of the mission of this corporation consistent with the Washington State Nonprofit Corporation Act, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Our 2024 Goals

Pine Creek Community Restoration Long Term Recovery Organization Strategic Goals Adopted by the Board of Directors on December 6, 2023

 

  1. Strengthen Collaboration with the Town of Malden
  2. Community Engagement
  3. Health and Well-Being
  4. Local Economy
  5. Resident Request program
  6. Community Center
  7. Pine City Memorial Dedication
  8. Create a Fundraising Plan

 

PCCRLTRO Board

Chandelle Frick, PCCRLTRO Executive Director

Christine Oakley, President

Scott Carlon, Vice President

John Lenz, Treasurer + Malden Council Liaison

Larry Frick, Board Member

Kim Heck, Board Member

Bob Law, Board Member

 

OPERATIONS TEAM — CONTRACTED

Terry Eng, Accountant

Robin Fahle Ohlgren, Communication and Outreach Specialist

 

OPERATIONS TEAM — VOLUNTEERS + AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES

Annica Eagle, Eastern Washington Regional Director, Washington State Department of Commerce

Scott Cooper, Director of Parish Social Ministries, Catholic Charities Eastern Washington

Matthew Gower, Behavioral Health Administrator, Washington State Health Care Authority

Jacquie Andresen, Contract Manager, Community Development Block Grant Program, Washington State Department of Commerce

Julia Havens, Community Engagement Managing Director, Washington State Department of Commerce

Micki Harnois, Clerk, Town of Malden

Dan Harwood, Mayor, Town of Malden

Jon Holmes, WA State Public Assistance/Emergency Management Division

Jeff Guyett, Director, Community Action Center

Paul Kimmell, Palouse Regional Business and Public Affairs Manager, Avista Corporation

Owen Rowe, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Jody Opheim, Grants Manager, Town of Malden

Scott Rivas, SCJ Alliance

Molly Sanchez, Innovia Foundation

Bill Tensfeld, Director, Whitman County Emergency Management

Gary Urbas, WA State Public Assistance/Emergency Management Division

Jennifer Wallace, Executive Director, Palouse Habitat for Humanity

Get in Touch. Get Involved.

Send us a message if you need recovery assistance or have ideas about helping our community rebuild.

Tell us how we are doing.  We want to hear from you.

 PCCRLTRO@gmail.com

Contact Us

P.O. Box 178,  Malden WA 99149

Email: pccrltro@gmail.com  |   Tel: 509-939-6005

14 W. Moreland Avenue, Malden, WA