Local Youth Helps Wildfire Victims Recover Treasures from the Ashes

With roughly 10 minutes left before his Samaritan’s Purse volunteer team had to leave the wildfire-damaged property, Mykel Strickland and the other volunteers launched one final search through the remains. The homeowner had hoped to recover a diamond engagement ring she had been holding for her daughter. The ring had fallen two stories during the fire, and she believed it was gone. Then, with only minutes remaining, something caught Strickland's attention. “We did an all-out search and found it in the last five minutes. When I found this ring, I was shoveling and someone else was sifting through. I saw something shiny in the ash and I took the shovel and scooped it up to sift though. That is when we found the ring.”

For Strickland, a Deer Park youth, finding the ring was a moment he said he will never forget. Strickland became involved with the disaster response after learning about the volunteer opportunity through his church, Turning Point Open Bible Church. He said he felt compelled to help. “I felt like God was calling me to help those affected and give back to the community.” Samaritan’s Purse is an organization serving people who lost homes in the Old Trails, Autumn Lane, and Fairview fires, with volunteers from both the local community and across the country helping families recover belongings from the ashes. According to Program Manager Matt Campbell, as of Aug. 26, 246 volunteers had served with Samaritan’s Purse in Spokane and Stevens counties. Those volunteers have assisted with 65 property searches and contributed 4,452 volunteer hours to the disaster response.

Campbell said the organization expects to serve approximately 200 properties but hopes to assist as many homeowners as possible who request help. He said the work is far more involved than simply cleaning up debris. “We aren't just doing content recovery. We're helping families recover pieces of their story. It involves talking and praying with a homeowner to determine where the items were located prior to the fire, knowing things can shift depending on how the home crumbles, then having teams of volunteers go into those areas to begin removing rubble and sifting through the ash.”

Before entering a burned home, volunteers put on personal protective equipment (PPE), including Tyvek suits, boot covers, gloves, eye protection, masks and sturdy shoes. According to Strickland, the process begins with the homeowner. “We gear up with PPE, take a walk around the house with the homeowner to find out what we are looking for. We then pray with the homeowner and then spend two hours at each location. On an average, there are eight to 10 volunteers at one location.”

Once inside, volunteers may use sifting pans to search for smaller items or search through debris by hand for larger belongings. “Sometimes we use a sifting pan to look for smaller stuff, and other times we use our hands and rummage through to find the bigger items. Sometimes we are digging through multiple stories of ash in one spot,” Strickland said. James Waltosz, a Samaritan’s Purse site team leader who supervised Strickland, said the work requires volunteers to enter difficult and uncomfortable environments.

Waltosz said Strickland stood out because of his willingness to immediately take on the difficult work. “He was very willing to step into the footprint of the home and serve despite the uncomfortable conditions,” he noted. Waltosz said Strickland also demonstrated determination while searching for homeowners’ belongings. “He was willing to keep sifting for extended periods of time at each home that we served.” Volunteers are often searching for items that cannot simply be replaced. “We are often asked to look for jewelry, coins, china, ceramics, and medals. Sometimes a homeowner will ask us to find the remains of pets or urns with the remains of a loved one,” said Waltosz.

Strickland said the work can be physically and emotionally difficult. “These homeowners have just lost everything. It is really hard not being able to find the things homeowners are hoping to find. The heat also makes it really hard as you have all of the PPE on over your clothes.” At the same time, Strickland said the discoveries can be surprising. “We found a ring with all of the diamonds still intact. That was a blessing.” The recovered engagement ring was not the only treasure volunteers have found. Strickland said teams have recovered items with both financial and senti- mental value. “I feel a lot of gratitude in being able to help families find any treasures we can find.

We have found Christmas ornaments, rings, family heirlooms, gold coins that were passed down from generations, and much more,” said Strickland. Waltosz said homeowners are often emotional when volunteers are able to recover something from the ashes. “Many are happy to find anything that survived the fire. We have seen a lot of tears when homeowners are reunited with precious items.” For families who have lost their homes, Campbell said even small items can carry tremendous meaning. “Every item recovered can also become an opportunity to listen, pray, encourage, and share the hope of Jesus Christ. It helps provide closure that many may not realize how much they truly need. This assistance helps close that chapter in their life. Often, we find it’s not the items recovered that always matter, but simply the fact someone showed up ready to love and listen to them in a meaningful way that matters the most.”

Campbell said the emotional impact of the work extends beyond the objects volunteers recover. “It’s hard to put into words when everything in this life you’ve worked so hard for now is gone. Finding small items preserves memories and shows the remains of their life and home mattered so much that complete strangers came to help validate how much their loss matters. When the special items are located, it helps provide joy when closing out that chapter in their life.” For Strickland, seeing the destruction firsthand has reinforced how quickly life can change. “We need to be more grateful for the stuff we have because it could be gone in an instant.”

He said it is difficult to see families standing where their homes were once located. “It’s sad to see how much they had, and now they have nothing. It’s devastating, but it is nice to find stuff they are searching for. It’s surreal to see the amount of damage that was caused so quickly.” Still, the gratitude expressed by homeowners has made a lasting impression. “All of them, they have all been very grateful,” Strickland said. Waltosz said the work is about much more than physically removing debris. “Human connection is essential because we are here to not only search for meaningful items, but to show homeowners love and compassion.”

For Strickland, faith has been central to his decision to volunteer. “My faith has played a huge role in my volunteering. God called me to serve my community after this devastating fire.” He said continuing to serve his community is what keeps him returning to the disaster sites. He hopes others, particularly other young people, will consider volunteering when their community is in need. “The experience is one that can’t be explained,” Strickland commented.