Resources made available for victims of Texas, Gwen fires

JULIAETTA — Two men who watched the recent wildfires burn their properties near Juliaetta came to the small town’s elementary school Wednesday looking for assistance.

Multiple agencies gathered at the school to provide resources like housing assistance, food, hygiene supplies and damage assessment for those affected by the Texas and Gwen fires. This multi-agency resource center will also be open today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the school.

Local residents Roger Eberhardt and Howard Hoskins both arrived with similar goals. Neither men lost their house in the fire, but the flames burned much of their land. Hoskins also lost a vehicle and farming equipment.

Hoskins and Eberhardt both said that one of their biggest problems is replacing the fences that were burned around their properties. They hoped one of the agencies at Juliaetta Elementary could help them.

Eberhardt is also concerned about the trees on his land that were swallowed up by the flames.

“It remains to be seen how many of them will die and how many of them will live,” he said.

Eberhardt recounted those scary hours when he could see the Gwen Fire creeping up the Potlatch River and heading for his house. He chose not to evacuate so he could stay with the cattle on his property. That meant he had a close-up view of the canyon ridges burning and the helicopters fighting to slow the flames.

“It was the biggest Fourth of July display you’ve ever seen,” he said.

Fortunately, his cattle and his house remained untouched. Hoskins’ house was also spared, but he said many of his neighbors were not as lucky.

Jeremy Maxand, who is involved in the Idaho Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters, said the multiagency resource center is intended to help fire victims with needs big and small.

“Some families have literally lost everything,” he said.

He worked with Latah and Nez Perce counties to organize the gathering, which also included the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Nez Perce Tribe Social Services Department, United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and local government officials. Maxand said people who have not yet been able to access resources to meet their needs can hopefully find what they are looking for at the school.

“We’re going to find out what people need here over the next two days if we get folks that come in or not,” he said.

Taricia Moliga, of the Nez Perce Tribe Social Services Department, handed out bags of snacks to community members. She helps run the Lapwai United Methodist Church facility that became a shelter for people who evacuated their homes. She said 14 people stayed at the church when the fires spread, and two are currently still staying there.

The center provided food, hygiene supplies and gift cards to the victims. This task was made easier by all of the donated supplies the tribe received from residents and local businesses, she said. Moliga said it was “awesome to see” that generosity.

“I’ve never worked a disaster where there’s been so much community help from everywhere,” Moliga said.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.