The Williams Mine fire began burning on August 5 and has since devastated more than 11,000 acres just north of Trout Lake, Washington. The blaze, caused by a lightning strike , is only five percent contained as of Monday, August 19. Portland-based amateur photographer Ryan Ernst married into a lifetime of family memories at Trout Lake.
He and his wife and son have since made their own. It’s also a place Ernst has sought respite and peace. “The hope and goal is we all eventually end up there,” said Ernst.
Shortly after the fire had taken off, Ernst was alerted through the trusty family group chat that the first responders needed resources. “So, then I put a blast on to my social media account on my Instagram and people know that I love Trout Lake, it’s all over my feed,” said Ernst. “And people know that I’m usually pretty honest, like they know I care and within about, I’d say 30 or 24 hours, we had like $1200 raised.
” Ernst took that money to the store to get first responders on the scene of the Williams Mine fire things they needed to stay alert while fighting a massive fire in an area close to the Ernsts’ hearts. He documented purchasing the goods and delivering them to first responders to show his social media following that the money donated was putting food and drinks in the hands of the people who needed it most. “A light came on in their faces,” Ernst said of the first responders.
“They like got excited. They’re like, ‘Where did you get this stuff?’ And I was like, ‘I just put something up on my Instagram and people just wanted to give.’” Ernst said he was inspired by his sister and brother-in-law, who own the restaurant Trout Lake Hall and were providing meals for first responders like breakfast burritos, an item not featured on their menu but one that would fill first responder bellies.
The first responders seemed overwhelmed by the delivery, according to Ernst. He said he was glad to make one large delivery they can use but he is not collecting more money. He encourages others to respond to a need when they see one.
“You may not have all the answers, you may not have all the logistics,” said Ernst. “Sometimes it’s just like, ‘Alright, here’s a need, let’s go, let’s go take care of it.” Ernst encourages others to act, as long as it’s out of harm’s way.
“To add to all that, I was out there taking photos with kind of a new setup that I just got,” said Ernst. “They’re not the greatest photos, but I think they do strike a nerve.” The view of Mt.
Adams, while scenic and beautiful, is almost completely obscured by smoke in the photos Ernst took. “I’m definitely going to reminisce,” he said. He plans to take his family out to Trout Lake to make more memories when it’s safe again.
Destiny Johnson | [email protected] om |.
