Dozens of local residents have worked around the clock to save their homes and ranches, and to help their friends and neighbors near Lonerock, Winlock, Kinzua, and Spray.
Some people are at their best when in a pinch. When the going got tough in the hours and days following the outbreak of the Lonerock Fire, dozens of men and women lept into action.
In Lonerock, locals brought CATs and water tanks to save the town. With the South Gilliam Fire crew, volunteers responded quickly and helped stave off disaster.
And even after fire crews arrived from around the country, these volunteers kept after it. There was no quit in these guys.
The Times-Journal heard from appreciative neighbors, who told stories of men who drove CAT for 30 consecutive hours.
And others that cut down trees around houses, and then backlit fires near Lonerock to prevent the fire from destroying the town.
The same stories were told in the Spray area.
Ranchers who were struggling to remove livestock from the fire's path were helped by neighbors who showed up with a trailer and hauled cattle away.
Several men sent their wives and children away to safety but decided to stay put and use their skills and knowledge of the area to save properties.
The Times-Journal reached out to several people in the Lonerock, Winlock, and Spray areas, asking for comment. But in addition to being heroic, the volunteers are also quite humble.
But whether they like it or not – here are some of the names that were given to us by appreciative neighbors: Mitch Griffith, Ben Steward, Jason Campbell, Joseph Campbell, Tim Campbell, Kayla Hand, James Hand, David Cole, Kyle Cole, Jeremy Cole, Andy Watkins, Steve Stebbins, Michael Fischer and his family, Ben Logan, Sawyer Logan, Ross Ryno, Tim Asher, David Newton, Dallas Newton, Cassi Newton.
These are just the names that were given to us – no doubt there are many, many more.
We're all in your debt.
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