Holiday Farm Fire Damage

The Holiday Farm Fire has had a massive impact on the McKenzie River area east of Springfield.

Residents affected by the holiday farm fire were able to finally see their homes... or what was left of them in person today.

An odot pilot car lead a caravan of residents up highway 126... which has been closed for weeks... to assess their losses.

Kezi 9 news reporter emma withrow joined the caravan and shows us what is left in the area.

Utter devastation.... every where you look... some houses were spared from the flames... but others were not... "the mckenzie river valley, never to be the same... at least in my lifetime.."

It's been weeks since the holiday farm fire ripped through this beautiful part of western oregon... but today was one of the most emotional for many... since it was the first look at the ashes that lay in a place they once cherished.

"just seeing the devastation of the town brought tears to my eye, sorrow to my heart, it was like a war zone.

You wouldn't even recognize where you were."

And for many this moment was long overdue... with a large majority of highway 126 being closed for weeks now hundreds of residents had no clue the extent of the damage or how to help.

"and it was days of just twiddling our thumbs until we could get backup, not knowing the state of things up here, and that was the hardest part for me... being able, but i couldn't make it up here."

But now that the road is cleared enough for residents to asses their losses... some are reflecting on the light at the end of this dark tunnel.

"if covid and this fire isn't reason enough for us to pull together, i don't know what is... we have to find a way.."

"it's a truly tragic thing to experience but as the fable of the phoenix..

We too shall arise from the ashes, cleansed and anew" reporting in