2 years after wildfire, Pateros trying to rebuild city sign

PATEROS, Wash. (AP) — Two years after a massive wildfire tore through the north-central Washington town of Pateros, residents are raising money to rebuild their historic city sign.


The community wants to replace the 30-foot "Pateros" sign that stood for decades along Highway 97 but was scorched by wildfire.

The Carlton Complex blaze started July 14, 2014 as four fires that grew into one larger fire days later. The wildfire, the largest in state history, destroyed hundreds of homes in Okanogan County and scorched more than 390 square miles.

Joni Parks of the Pasco Chamber of Commerce told the KREM-TV (http://goo.gl/Dp0jKi) that the burned sign brings back a lot of emotions.

She says it's a huge part of the community and when they rebuild it, it will symbolize where the community is headed.