Yakama Nation Declares Emergency After Friday Fire

Residents in White Swan who were forced from their homes on Friday night were back in their homes on Saturday after firefighters were able to contain a wildfire that threatened the community. It was reported at about 3:40 p.m. Friday but kept firefighters busy through the evening, eventually turning into a three alarm fire and forcing evacuation of hundreds of people.
The fire destroyed 2 homes and blackened 700 acres. As a result, the Yakama Nation Tribal Council called an urgent meeting Saturday morning and declared a state of emergency on behalf of White Swan and the surrounding communities to help bring assistance to those impacted by the wildfire.
“I would like to thank the first responders for their professionalism and bravery in protecting our White Swan Community and ensuring that there was no loss of life,” said Yakama Nation Tribal Council Chairman JoDe Goudy following Saturday’s declaration.  “The fire may be contained, but now the significant work begins to rebuild our infrastructure and help those that were hit hardest by this disaster.”
Anyone interested in donating to the recovery of those impacted by the White Swan Fire can send donations payable to the “Yakama Nation WS Fire Relief Fund” to Yakama Nation Director of Finance, Ms. Luana Lumley, at P.O. Box 151, 401 Fort Road, Toppenish, WA 98948.
For additional information on ongoing disaster relief efforts and how you can help, please contact Ms. Elizabeth Nason, Yakama Nation Tribal Administrative Director at (509) 865-5121.  For any press information, please contact Ms. Elizabeth Sanchey at (509) 945-2939.