Almeda fire four years later

ROGUE VALLEY, Ore. – Sunday marked four years since the destructive Almeda fire scorched through the Rogue Valley.

The fire that blazed from Ashland to southern Medford in 2020 resulted in the deaths of three people and displaced thousands, changing the trajectory of their lives.

The experiences of 2020, both the pandemic and wildfires, brought higher levels of collaboration with social service partners in helping those affected.

Jackson County Community Long-term Recovery Group Executive Director Caryn Wheeler Clay says a critical aspect for families recovering and figuring a way to move forward is finding community but while some survivors were able to get back on their feet, others are still left feeling the destruction it caused them physically, mentally, and emotionally.

“You have this whole spectrum of people who from all outward appearances have recovered, but may still be feeling the impacts years later of that loss to folks who are still not recovered and are still feeling that impact of loss,” says Clay.

The road to recovery has been a long roller coaster for some families, but Clay says survivor victims can still reach out to different organizations for any help that they need.

The community will be behind them, supporting them every step of the way.