Mike’s Family, Very Lucky in Clearwater Complex Fire

My family runs cattle in the Kamiah area and I've been talking for a week on the Mike and Kate showgram about how they've been hunting for them to get them out of the fire area   There have been over 50 buildings burned to the ground in the Kamiah area, I'm sharing some pictures that my brother took and they are pretty devastating.

I can say after almost a week of searching that my family is very lucky and all the cattle have been found and are safe and alive.  They found the first two thirds of the herd in the first couple days, but couldn't find the final third for almost a week.  They woke up every day at 3am to head into the area and continue the search.

It's a miracle that all of the cattle made it.  One area was pretty much burned to the ground, and had about twenty head of cattle there and not one was hurt or burned.  The only thing that they can figure out happened was that the cows and calves took refuge in a pond as the fire burned around them and that's what saved them.  Absolutely amazing.

So sad for all the families homes and businesses that have burned to the ground or been affected by the fires, not just in the Clearwater complex, but everywhere. The fires in the Clearwater complex will have a big affect on the area for years to come.  This is a big hunting and fishing area, that brings a lot of money into area businesses and economy from people visiting.  It will be a while before wildlife comes back.

Here are pictures that my brother took while my family were searching for cattle in the area.  These are some pictures taken before the fire, during the fire and the devastation after.