September 8th marks one year exactly since the Almeda Drive and South Obenchain fires destroyed 2,500 homes in Jackson County. And the destruction visited other parts of the region, too, with homes lost on both sides of the state line.
It is taking time and effort to rebuild, and the ever-present COVID pandemic keeps getting in the way. A two-day observance of the Almeda Drive fire anniversary planned for Ashland, Talent, and Phoenix had to be cancelled when COVID case numbers began spiking in Jackson County and elsewhere. The event has been replaced with a self-guided experience.
We round up some of the organizers and some fire survivors to talk about their experiences and their work to put the pieces of community back together.
Many thanks to all of our guests:
- Niria Alicia
- Erica Ledesma
- Teresa Cisneros
- Jocksana Corona
- Alison French
- Daniel Verner
- Cherie Grubbs