MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. – One year after the devastating Gray Fire, the residents of Medical Lake are still working on rebuilding their lives and homes. The fire turned hundreds of lives upside down, but the community continues to come together to support one another.
Mike Hogan recalls the past 12 months, standing outside his new home.
“It’s good to be back home,” he said. Reflecting on the tragedy, Hogan shared, “I lost everything except for my vehicles.”
The physical loss also took a toll on his health.
“Doctors said the stroke was probably from the stress of the fire and losing everything,” Hogan said.
Despite the challenges, Hogan is optimistic as he surveys his still-charred property, saying, “I used to have a beautiful yard… It’s coming back pretty well though.” He remains hopeful, stating, “I’ll get there.”
Like many in Medical Lake, Hogan’s path to recovery is intertwined with the efforts of non-profit Re*Imagine Medical Lake and its president, Gerri Johnson.
Johnson mentioned their dedication, “Whether it was a big need or a little need, we were going to hang in there with him.”
Re*Imagine Medical Lake initially focused on promoting the town with festivals, parades and farmers’ markets.
However, after the fire on August 18, 2023, their mission changed to provide essential support to the community.
“After the Gray Road Fire, they started coming and asking… just more than anything to be a good neighbor, to be a friend they could count on, and so that’s what we’ve been doing,” Johnson said.
In some cases, being a good neighbor means convincing someone first that they are worthy of help.
“It doesn’t matter that you’re saying someone else needs it more, you’re that person today and I know you’re going to get back to that place, but today, it’s you,” Johnson said.
Jan Preeo, another resident affected by the fire, struggled with the newfound dependence brought by her losses.
“I’ve always been very independent but that fire made me dependent,” Preeo said.
She decided not to rebuild and has since adapted to living in an apartment with her dog, Buddy.
“I haven’t been in an apartment since I was 20 years old. I kinda like it actually,” she shared.
The fire left her overwhelmed with paperwork, a task she wasn’t familiar with. Preeo reached out to Johnson for help. “All that paperwork. It drowned me. And she helped me. Sorry that makes me teary. She was so good to me,” Preeo said.
Johnson and her team at Re*Imagine Medical Lake have embraced the role of helping their neighbors in any way possible. The bond within the community has only grown stronger.
“We’re kind of a bonded group now. Whether you had a fire or you didn’t,” Preeo mentioned.
Johnson summed up the spirit of the community, saying, “I think we can achieve a lot when we all work together… It’s better together.” The sense of unity and support continues to define Medical Lake as they move forward from the tragedy.
“This is a kind, loving community,” Preeo added, highlighting the strong sense of togetherness that has been vital in their recovery journey.
