ELK, Wash. – Volunteers with a church in Elk have been working since last fall to convert Conex boxes into homes for Oregon Road wildfire survivors.
After nearly a year of hard work, five boxes are finally ready to be delivered.
Michael Martin lost his log home he built by hand on August 18, 2023 – the day of the Oregon Road Fire.
“Everything I’ve been working for for 23 years is just gone,” Martin said.
Almost a year later, Martin was given something he’s excited to call home.
The Conex Box is about eight feet tall and 40 feet long. It now sits on his property where his home once stood.
Now that the box has been delivered, the county will come out to inspect it and it will be connected to Martin’s utilities.
“This will be so much more convenient to be able to stay here sometimes and actually get up early and make progress,” Martin said.
Martin said his old home was uninsured, making it even more of a struggle to rebuild.
Volunteers with Country Church of the Open Bible will then deliver and set up the fridge, shower, toilet, washer, dryer, and other amenities needed to make it a home.