MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. — Medical Lake community members gathered this week to provide input on how $44 million in disaster relief funds from Spokane County should be allocated as the city continues rebuilding from the devastating Gray Fire of 2023.

The public outreach meeting, organized by the Spokane Region Long-Term Recovery Group and Spokane County Housing & Community Development Department, drew dozens of residents who are still working to recover from the wildfire that left lasting scars on both the landscape and the community.

Driving through Medical Lake today, charred forests and debris serve as stark reminders that the city is still picking up the pieces from the 2023 disaster. Many residents said they continue to need assistance with their recovery.

Mike Gerry, who lost his shop

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