Driving Through Hell on Earth

Driving Through Hell on Earth
Deputy’s Body Cam Captures Frightening Moments while Saving Lives During the Initial Hours of Oregon Road Fire Evacuations
The video is from the body camera of Deputy Brittan Morgan, who responded to the Oregon Fire in North Spokane County (Elk, Millan, Chattaroy area) just after it began. He had his body camera on while contacting citizens, advising them to evacuate immediately due to the extraordinarily fast-moving and devastating wildfire that started on August 18, 2023, at approximately 4:00 pm.
After notifying the last person in his assigned area, who refused to leave with him, Deputy Morgan ran back to his patrol car. He drove south on Jefferson Road to Oregon Road, where he waited for Deputy Nave and other people trying to evacuate and escape to safety. He notified Deputy Nave via radio the ferocious fire was heading their way, and Deputy Nave needed to get out.
As Deputy Nave followed the people he was helping evacuate, trying to ensure their safety in the confusion and heavy smoke, Deputy Morgan waived others on as they continued their escape. He then pulled behind Deputy Nave’s Patrol vehicle as they began their flight from the fast-moving fire driven by high winds.
Deputy Morgan’s video, which he hadn’t shut off in the commotion, shows what it was like for him, Deputy Nave, and others in front of them as they escaped the fire that had jumped the road.
The video has been edited for time and language, but the drive through the fire is exactly what they all went through as it happened. Again, Deputy Morgan did not realize his camera was still on as he talked himself through this extremely terrifying moment. Clearly, he is not sure how it would end, but his determination to escape the flames is evident.
Afterward, he continued to help others who were distraught and still trying to go into the life-threatening fire he had barely made it through, only moments before, probably saving their lives.
During all this chaos, emotion, adrenalin, and, yes, fear, Deputy Morgan suddenly realized the person he initially contacted but refused to leave was suddenly emerging from the fire-ravaged area. As he does, his demeanor suddenly switches to empathy and compassion. Knowing the fiery hell he had just experienced, Deputy Morgan greets the person with kindness and care, expressing how thankful he was the person was alive, reassuring him that he did everything he could to save his animals.
Deputy Morgan points the person toward safety as he is approached by another distraught person who wants to go into the burning inferno to retrieve his livelihood, a semi. Understanding the man’s frustration, desperation, and concern, Deputy Morgan calmly talks to him, explaining everything in that direction is on fire, and he doesn’t want him to die.
As they spoke, a lady pulled up, frantically saying her dad was at a house and couldn’t get out, pointing back into the fire’s path. He radioed the location to other first responders working in another part of the evacuation zone.
Soon after, Deputy Nave approaches, and they talk about the harrowing experience they had both just lived through and the possibility others didn’t make it out of the blaze.
This is only one story of bravery and courage from the Oregon Road Fire as there are undoubtedly more, including similar stories from the Gray Fire, which started at approximately 12:00 pm the same day, near Medical Lake.
It is heartbreaking that two people lost their lives, one in the Orgon Road Fire and one in the Gray Fire (unrelated to any part of this video). It is staggering and painful to think about the many people who lost their homes, property and everything they had, but thankfully, they escaped with their lives. Despite the enormous devastation and destruction, it is nothing short of a miracle that more lives weren’t lost, including many first responders who rushed into danger to warn others, saving the lives of many people in the area.
As of August 30, 2023:
The Oregon Road Fire started August 18, 2023, at approximately 4:00 pm, has claimed one life, burned an estimated 10,817 acres, destroyed an estimated 120 homes or more, and several more outbuildings, but the complete assessment continues.
The Gray Fire started on August 18, 2023, at approximately 12:00 pm, also claimed one life, burned an estimated 10,085 acres, destroyed an estimated 200 homes or more, and several more outbuildings, but the complete assessment continues.