ABOVE: Vanessa Place stands outside the mobile home her family is living in Thursday as her son, Brian Place II, 12, rides his bike out to the road leading to their home. Nearly nine months after the Babb Road Wildfire tore through Malden, claiming the Placeâs home and many others, the family is still waiting to get started on rebuilding. LEFT: Cleaning up and rebuilding is a long process. A pile of tires is seen last week at the Malden Community Park.BELOW: Brian Place looks down at his dog, Daisy, while standing over the plot of land he plans to build a new home on. Place has been waiting for cement to get poured on the lot; because of recent rain making it muddy, he must wait longer.
KXLY
May 5, 2021 9:52 AM Olivia Roberts
Updated:
Copyright 4 News Now
SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. The Spokane Valley Fire Department donated one its fire engines to the city of Malden.
The local department donated its 1999 Pierce Engine during a ceremony Wednesday afternoon.
Malden and neighboring town Pine City were destroyed by a fast-moving wildfire in September 2020, destroying homes, businesses, the towns’ fire station and fire engine.
“We are very excited to be able to help out the City of Malden,” Spokane Valley Fire Department Chief Bryan Collins said in a release. “As we go into warmer temperatures and wildfire season, this fire engine will be a valuable asset for the City of Malden.”
Malden residents impacted by the devastating fire last fall are able to apply for loans through the Small Business Administration until April 12.
The SBA approved a disaster declaration for Whitman County on Feb. 9, not long after the county’s request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for individual assistance was denied, Malden Mayor Dan Harwood said.
Aside from Whitman County, the declaration also includes surrounding counties such as Adams, Sutton, Columbia, Franklin and Garfield, said Cynthia Cowell, SBA public information officer.
People who qualify for loans have a chance to rebuild at a very low-interest rate. Interest rates could be as low as 1.18 percent for homeowners and renters and 3 percent for businesses, she said.
Town of Malden receives new fire engine to replace one lost in Labor Day wildfire
The town s only fire engine was destroyed in the wildfire that also burned 80 percent of the town s buildings. Author: Amanda Roley Updated: 11:25 AM PST December 18, 2020
MALDEN, Wash. Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz delivered a fire engine to Malden on Thursday, replacing the town s only firetruck that was lost in the Labor Day wildfire.
The Babb Road fire destroyed the entire town, damaging about 80 percent of homes in both Malden and Pine City.
In September, Franz toured Malden with its former mayor. That day, she made a promise that Malden would get another fire truck.