ANDRUM, Monomi--President Brenton Menuhaeo braved the heavy smoke Friday and toured the front lines of the wildfires burning in southern Monomi and Onakiah Friday.
The president also viewed the damage from the air.
He was joined by Monomi Gov. John Densy and Sens. Cathy De Beers and Brad Fiodora.
The day began early at 7:00 am Western time, with the delegation visiting firefighters on the eastern front of the Moran Hill fire in southwestern Monomi, about 120 miles northeast of Treeton.
Menuhaeo personally shook hands with all the firefighters present at the morning press conference.
Calling them "heroes" and "some of the hardest workers I've met," he thanked them for their service.
"Not only is firefighting one of the most demanding, physically tolling jobs out there, it's also extraordinarily dangerous. Every day you come out here and put on your fire gear and go to battle against a force that is very strong and very deadly. You endure the hellish conditions and you work on despite the grave risk. And our nation thanks you for protecting our homes and our lives," said Menuhaeo.
Gov. Densy also thanked the firefighters and said the fire would "not defeat our spirits."
"Living in Monomi is not always easy. Mother Nature is very tough and we live in a rugged state. But the spirit of our people is stronger than any natural disaster," Densy said.
Sens. De Beers told the media she would stand with the president in his pledge to provide federal aid.
"We will make sure Monomi gets the help it needs," De Beers said.
The Moran Hill fire currently stands at more than 60 square miles, and is about 40% contained.
About three-dozen homes and outbuildings have been burned in the sparsely populated eastern slopes of the Coral Mountains, although steady winds Friday were hampering firefighters' efforts.
One woman, who lost everything to the wildfire, was comforted by the president in a poignant moment caught on camera.
"My house, my car, my horses, my possessions, my family picture books...they're all gone," the woman said through tears.
The woman, identified as 65-year-old Bonnie Clarey, buried her head in the president's chest as the two embraced.
"I know, I know. It's very hard. I'm so sorry for your loss," Menuhaeo said. "But we will help you get back on your feet. We're not going to let this fire destroy you."
After nearly four hours at the Moran Hill fire, Menuhaeo flew back to Teedra, where he then boarded a flight for Tenea, Onakiah.
There, the president met up with Gov. Paula Tulane and Sens. Bobby Hafen and Deacon Busby.
Another 40-minute helicopter ride later, the group was on-site of another large wildfire burning in southeastern Onakiah, the Quail Creek fire, which has charred more than 50 square miles in another sparsely populated region, about 130 miles southeast of Tenea.
Dry brush and high temperatures have allowed the fire to spread aggressively. It is only 20% contained at this time, according to Assistant Fire Chief of Operations Bradley Whitfield.
"This fire is especially dangerous because it is advancing quite rapidly," Whitfield said.
Menuhaeo said he was "very worried" about the worsening fire conditions, but pledged the federal government would do "whatever we need to" to bring help to the victims.
"I want every person that lost their home or lost their property to these fires to know that we will do whatever we need to to provide help and assistance and help these families that lost everything to get back on their feet," the president said.
Gov. Tulane said this was the worst wildfire season she'd seen.
"No question about it, this is the worst year for fires I've seen in Onakiah," Tulane said.
Sen. Hafen told reporters he was moved by the devastation.
"Coming up over that ridge and seeing the smoke filling the sky and a huge orange glow, it really hits home when you see your state on fire," Hafen said.
Busby, who grew up in rural southeastern Onakiah, said the fire was very personal to him.
"A lot of us are removed from these fires, until it's in our own backyard, and we see the devastation and the homes that are destroyed and the people that lose everything. Then it really becomes very personal."
President Menuhaeo also vowed to give firefighters every resource they needed.
"We have dispatched air tankers, choppers, more ground support and brought in firefighters from across the country to assist with these fires," Menuhaeo said. "This is a battle and one that we will win."
All together, there are more than two dozen wildfires burning in the vast areas of Monomi and Onakiah.
Twenty-six other major fires are burning in Remmington, the Ceonas, Deschire, East Deschire, Wellington and Biereland, according to the Federal Department of Public Lands.
Red Cross shelters are being established to help families that have lost their homes to the flames.
"So far, we've been very fortunate this year, in the number of homes and the relatively low loss of life and property we've experienced," Sarah Goler, Deputy Director for the Red Cross of Grassadellia's fire assistance program, told the GBC. "I say that with reservations, because any loss of life is awful and sad. But statistically speaking, this has been a fairly good fire season thus far. But we could see things take a bad turn if Mother nature does not provide the relief we need."
The Red Cross is asking for donations. To contribute, go to www.redcrossgrassadellia.com
The president also viewed the damage from the air.
He was joined by Monomi Gov. John Densy and Sens. Cathy De Beers and Brad Fiodora.
The day began early at 7:00 am Western time, with the delegation visiting firefighters on the eastern front of the Moran Hill fire in southwestern Monomi, about 120 miles northeast of Treeton.
Menuhaeo personally shook hands with all the firefighters present at the morning press conference.
Calling them "heroes" and "some of the hardest workers I've met," he thanked them for their service.
"Not only is firefighting one of the most demanding, physically tolling jobs out there, it's also extraordinarily dangerous. Every day you come out here and put on your fire gear and go to battle against a force that is very strong and very deadly. You endure the hellish conditions and you work on despite the grave risk. And our nation thanks you for protecting our homes and our lives," said Menuhaeo.
Gov. Densy also thanked the firefighters and said the fire would "not defeat our spirits."
"Living in Monomi is not always easy. Mother Nature is very tough and we live in a rugged state. But the spirit of our people is stronger than any natural disaster," Densy said.
Sens. De Beers told the media she would stand with the president in his pledge to provide federal aid.
"We will make sure Monomi gets the help it needs," De Beers said.
The Moran Hill fire currently stands at more than 60 square miles, and is about 40% contained.
About three-dozen homes and outbuildings have been burned in the sparsely populated eastern slopes of the Coral Mountains, although steady winds Friday were hampering firefighters' efforts.
One woman, who lost everything to the wildfire, was comforted by the president in a poignant moment caught on camera.
"My house, my car, my horses, my possessions, my family picture books...they're all gone," the woman said through tears.
The woman, identified as 65-year-old Bonnie Clarey, buried her head in the president's chest as the two embraced.
"I know, I know. It's very hard. I'm so sorry for your loss," Menuhaeo said. "But we will help you get back on your feet. We're not going to let this fire destroy you."
After nearly four hours at the Moran Hill fire, Menuhaeo flew back to Teedra, where he then boarded a flight for Tenea, Onakiah.
There, the president met up with Gov. Paula Tulane and Sens. Bobby Hafen and Deacon Busby.
Another 40-minute helicopter ride later, the group was on-site of another large wildfire burning in southeastern Onakiah, the Quail Creek fire, which has charred more than 50 square miles in another sparsely populated region, about 130 miles southeast of Tenea.
Dry brush and high temperatures have allowed the fire to spread aggressively. It is only 20% contained at this time, according to Assistant Fire Chief of Operations Bradley Whitfield.
"This fire is especially dangerous because it is advancing quite rapidly," Whitfield said.
Menuhaeo said he was "very worried" about the worsening fire conditions, but pledged the federal government would do "whatever we need to" to bring help to the victims.
"I want every person that lost their home or lost their property to these fires to know that we will do whatever we need to to provide help and assistance and help these families that lost everything to get back on their feet," the president said.
Gov. Tulane said this was the worst wildfire season she'd seen.
"No question about it, this is the worst year for fires I've seen in Onakiah," Tulane said.
Sen. Hafen told reporters he was moved by the devastation.
"Coming up over that ridge and seeing the smoke filling the sky and a huge orange glow, it really hits home when you see your state on fire," Hafen said.
Busby, who grew up in rural southeastern Onakiah, said the fire was very personal to him.
"A lot of us are removed from these fires, until it's in our own backyard, and we see the devastation and the homes that are destroyed and the people that lose everything. Then it really becomes very personal."
President Menuhaeo also vowed to give firefighters every resource they needed.
"We have dispatched air tankers, choppers, more ground support and brought in firefighters from across the country to assist with these fires," Menuhaeo said. "This is a battle and one that we will win."
All together, there are more than two dozen wildfires burning in the vast areas of Monomi and Onakiah.
Twenty-six other major fires are burning in Remmington, the Ceonas, Deschire, East Deschire, Wellington and Biereland, according to the Federal Department of Public Lands.
Red Cross shelters are being established to help families that have lost their homes to the flames.
"So far, we've been very fortunate this year, in the number of homes and the relatively low loss of life and property we've experienced," Sarah Goler, Deputy Director for the Red Cross of Grassadellia's fire assistance program, told the GBC. "I say that with reservations, because any loss of life is awful and sad. But statistically speaking, this has been a fairly good fire season thus far. But we could see things take a bad turn if Mother nature does not provide the relief we need."
The Red Cross is asking for donations. To contribute, go to www.redcrossgrassadellia.com
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