MALDEN, WA– A local resident, identified as Dean Cannon, has spent the last five years rebuilding his life after a devastating fire swept through his property. The fire destroyed Cannon’s home near a hill, as well as years of hard work and cherished possessions, leaving him to start anew.
Cannon recounted, “Stored all my businesses there and they all burned down, and all my vehicles had about 40, 50 vehicles.”
He had retired, with everything stored in one place, but the fire’s ruthless path left nothing behind.
“Then, I seen the smoke in the distance at the house, and I went up to the top of the hill and I says, yeah, this is going to take everybody out,” he said.
Despite the loss of property, what Cannon misses most are the personal items that held sentimental value.
“Recipes from five generations ago… handwritten from the 1800s. Flowers I had from high school and my grandmother’s plants I had were over 150 years. Her mother had, and everything gone,” he shared.
Over the past five years, Cannon has focused on healing and finding joy in rebuilding his life.
“My, my wife wanted some green. So, that was the biggest thing I had to do is get the grass growing and got that growing. Now, we’re trying to get a garden, but the deer eat everything up before you get anything,” he explained.
“So, that’s our routine, feed the deer and have fun.”
Cannon and others like him are taking moments to celebrate their good fortune and the strength of their community.
“It’s amazing we made it… it’s a blessing.”
