Larry “Scoop” Kirpes, 86, died peacefully in Pullman on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s, surrounded by his loving family.
Colton Fire receives donations
Fighting Clackamas County wildfires in September took a toll on the department s gear
The volunteers of Colton Rural Fire department spend hours training for emergencies, and when the wildland fires struck in September, they spent days and nights in the hills fighting to save the community. This took a toll on the firefighting equipment of the small, rural fire department. Fundraising to help replace and repair the gear began even before the fires were extinguished.
A GoFundMe account was set up, and with donations from 215 people from across the country, it raised $27,195.
Colton resident, Deawn Seals, said she saw social media posts saying people wanted to get together after the evacuation was lifted to celebrate community and the local heroes both the Colton volunteer firefighters and the redneck crews who helped keep Colton safe.