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To the Editor:

There’s still good out there.

Over the last eight weeks, Grant County has been through a local disaster of unprecedented complexity. Thanks to the leadership of our elected officials at the county and all the stakeholders I’ve been blessed to work with over the last two years, we were prepared for this event to a degree we never were before.

At its peak we were managing seven fires simultaneously that burned nearly 170,000 acres in Grant County. We lost two primary residences and 13 other structures. It is not lost that the memory of the Canyon Creek Fire in 2015 weighed heavy on our thoughts during this time. In 2015 we lost nearly 100 structures, which included 43 primary residences in a fire that totaled 110,000 acres.

Two years ago, I was asked in a public forum what I would have done differently in the Canyon Creek Fire. I was unable to answer the question. I wasn’t there, and I know there were heroes there as well. My focus was to move forward, learn the lessons from the past and be better prepared for the next incident. That time came on July 13, 2024.

What I witnessed reinforced my faith in humanity and our community. People of all walks of life came together for the greater good. Acts of heroism and risk that went above and beyond the call of duty were commonplace. One hero sacrificed his life for us. True empathy for and from so many in our community was a shining example of how a community should be. I have a renewed belief in the giving nature of our little tribe here in Grant County, the one I, my parents and grandparents grew up with. Trust and healthy relationships matter here.

After several weeks of 14- to 16-hour days for everyone on our team, we now have the opportunity to reflect and think ahead in a changing world. Thank you to everyone who played a role in the response and ongoing recovery. Without everyone in this community pulling together, we couldn’t have accomplished what we did.

Eric Bush

Grant County Emergency Management Coordinator