Residents of addiction center salvage what they can after fire
KELSO, Wash. — A faith-based recovery center for people with addiction issues caught fire Sunday evening, injuring two firefighters, and residents spent Monday salvaging what they could.
The fire started just before 5 p.m. Sunday in a fireplace at the Mountain Ministries recovery center southeast of Kelso, according to Cowlitz County Fire and Rescue. The fire spread from the chimney to the roof of the building.
Fire officials say two firefighters became exhausted while fighting the fire and were taken to St. John Medical Center in Longview.
No one else was hurt. It took five hours for crews to put out the fire, officials said.
The founders of the center picked through the debris of their building Monday.
The people living there were at the house when the fire started. They were about to go to church when they heard a loud noise. Mark Rose and his fellow program members saw smoke and fire above a woodstove.
He and others tried to put out the fire with hoses and bowls of water, but they couldn’t stop it; however, fire crews couldn't either. They trucked tanks of water 12 miles up the hill to try and save the house.
Inside the home were hundreds of presents just wrapped the night before for the many graduates and volunteers who help Mountain Ministries.
In the ashes, however, Dakota Otton’s Christmas money in a felt snowman was found.
Founder of Mountain Ministries, Gary Miller, dug up a burned wad of cash that will help buy clothes for the eight people now without.
"The good part is there could have been a bunch of people hurt or dead," he said. "I feel for the people in fires that lose somebody. This is just stuff."
But there were more than just gifts, clothes and money. There were also years of wisdom, hope and prayer.
"For years I was addicted to alcohol and drugs. I was in and out of prison," said Rose. "This place helped me change my life. If it wasn't for this place, there'd be a lot of lost souls."
Miller said the program will go on. They have other properties and many volunteers, and this fire will not even count as a roadblock on their road to helping people recover.
KATU News reporter Kerry Tomlinson contributed to this report.
When you read about the life of Jesus you will find that Jesus didnt like religon either he told all the religous leaders of his time that their hearts were twisted and that their rules and burdens restricted their ability to know who God truly was Jesus taught us that it was about having a personal relationship with our creator. He broke all their rules and his intentions were always to do good for anyone who asked for his help. All of us should read what Jesus said what life is all about not what others have to say or opinions and we will find the truth about God. Jesus was a rebel, these days it's cool to live in sin but if you truly want to be a rebel read your bible and do the right thing LOVE!!!
The really frustrating, sad part of this is that the firefighters were not allowed to use the Coweeman River to put out the fire.   Fish are more important than humans now.   Time for government to get their priorities straight!
Didn't this place have Fire Extinguishers? OR were they considered WEAPONS and rehab clients were RESTRICTED from using them?
 @August100 Programs like this are not prison- they are not even locked in facilities. This is just where people go to try to beat an addiction. Of course fire extinguishers aren't prohibited.
@August100 yes they had extinguishers but the fire was inside a double roof line so it was very difficult to get to the fire even the proffessional firefighters could'nt get to it so please stop the negativety friend a home was lost and i wish you a Merry CHRISTmas
I think any religious based program should be shut down..  They spew hate and guilt.. How dare those good religious folks send their good children to them.. Shocking ! Fast track to suicide !
i would also like to say on behalf of Mountain ministries, as a graduate of the womans program...this program is not about money at all...Gary and fay took me in at a time when people that got paid...ie..mental health and so on had given up all hope for.. and they continued (not asking for anything from me but my desire to change) love me through all the ups and downs i faced..They put up with alot of my struggles and rebelionism that I was fighting and loved me unconditionally, just as Jesus would, because of their love for the lord and the desire they have to see lives changed through the power of Jesus Christ..They honestly have given everything they own and possess to help those out that most of the world wouldn't give the time of day! I just ask please do not judge or assume anything..if you truly believe in the lord and have thoughts about helping the ministry out, before doing anything..PRAY!!! If I only had the time to tell you about the fruit from the ministry, you would understand, however they taught be about faith and I have 100% faith that God is in control and He has a purpose and a plan and His name will be glorified through this all!! By the way...for the 4th year in a row i am spending Christmas with my family...hadn't happened for 20 years prior to graduating the program...
 @Mountain woman I'm not a very religious person, but they sound like good people.  Congratulations, merry Christmas, and thanks for sharing.
Mountain Ministries, through the love and grace of God, has helped me to answer the call of God on my life. After graduating the one year program, I am able to give back, helping other people to become what God desires for them. The Mountain believes that Jesus is the answer and so do I. A person addicted to drugs and alcohol can become a productive citizen who is clean and sober. I give all I have in service to God through Mountain Ministries.
 @snl The answer is different for everybody. I am glad you found your answer and your way out. As someone with 15 years clean, a "rational recovery" program was what worked for me (NO relgion, NO jesus, NO higher power.)
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I think that we as addicts should do whatever it takes for US.
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Congrats.
@WhenCowsAttack @sn God Bless you
 @Mountain Man  @WhenCowsAttack  @sn I will take that- thank you, and Merry Christmas to you.
GOD, through the PEOPLE at Mt. Ministries, prevented my beautiful, young daughter's certain death from a lifelong eating disorder. They did it with the transforming power of Jesus' LOVE! That is ALL they do. Your bitterly, negative comments, August100, are proof of your lack of knowledge regarding what takes place at Mt. Ministries and your ignorance of the many people they serve and the hundreds of lives, seemingly wasted, that God, working through them, has redeemed. They function completely on donations but in reality they earn, and deserve, every penny "given" to them for the enormous amount of volunteer services they provide, in the name of Jesus, for poor, elderly and handicapped people in thier community. (As if saving lives from the pit of hopelessness and despair to become contributing members of society isn't enough) And you can believe that no one involved in the Leadership at MM, least of all Gary and Fay, are getting rich by not paying the tax you think they should on "free" real estate (that's, by the way, NOT free). Really, a little advice for you, August100, you shouldn't comment on things you are so, obviously, uninformed about. It only convinces those who hear you of what an imbicile you are. That said... Despite this loss, our faith is in His Word; "But all things work together for the good of those who love God, according to His purpose". Our God, who is constantly Faithful, will continue to provide for and bless Mt. Ministries, more than ever! He will be glorified by what happens next. Watch and see.
Programs dont help people people help people and that is what this program is all about helpling people so dont get all caught up on the program focus on the people.
Actually the people who are a part of Mountain Ministries work everyday helping people in churches and people in the community who need assitance. They work everyday for no pay and no glory they want to glorify Jesus by doing to others as they wish others to do for them I have been a part of the mountain for 7 years. Gary and Fay the owners are the most generous and kind peopleIi have ever met this is a loss for now but we will win the war thanks for all the support It's Christmas time folks take heart and  love your families and be grateful for everything we have.
There is a Mountain Ministries Constuction Account at Fibre Federal Credit Union account # is 495371 thank you to everyone who is praying for us and wanting to help us rebuild Mountain Ministries is all about helping people so thanks for all the help.Â
Theses church programs are ALL ABOUT acquiring massive amounts of TAX-FREE REAL ESTATE.....
 @August100 No, they are really trying to help people who are hooked on drugs.
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I don't like religion either, but there is NO denying that they often do things to help people and their communities, as do non religious people.Â
 @August100 What? What would they have to gain from getting tax free  land? Nothing. They don't gain financially, don't gain assets, they just get a break from our government because they're doing things without the intent to get richer.Â
Mountain Ministries has a huge drop-out rate and is ran on the prison-model & slave labor. These people need REAL HOUSING & REAL JOBS, then get involved with drug & alcohol free activities WHEN THEY ARE NOT AT WORK!
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PROGRAMS DO NOT WORK!
OK August100 I get it. You hate God, Jesus and all they stand for. Truth, discipline and honesty. Well, with the way the world is going, don't be complaining when it goes up in flames...It's what you wanted anyway.
 @August100 and how do you suppose they get a job with a pre-drug test to get hired?
@August100 The success rate is much bigger than any other secular treatment center and the prison scale comment is a little harsh sir people need discipline in their lives but we dont tell people when and how to do things we allow them to grow at their own pace with God's grace
OK. This is an important mission that these people are doing...so while Herbpdx is pretending to be an editor and HarryJuku is being a political Jackass ...let the rest of us know how the community can help these people.
Please give us contact information.
@LongTimeLocal There is a Mountain Ministries Constuction Account at Fibre Federal Credit Union account # is 495371 thank you to everyone who is praying for us and wanting to help us rebuild Mountain Ministries is all about helping people so thanks for all the help
Okay, KATU, which is it: injured or exhausted? Two very different things. Let's get back to reporting the news with accuracy and not sensationalizing it. What a sad commentary on your journalism skills.
 @Herbipdx Katu just thought their viewers were a bit more knowledgeable. Firefighters wear turnouts which don't let in and don't let out heat. Heat combined with heavy labor makes  exhaustion really dangerous, exhaustion like they experience can kill and does kill firefighters.
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 @HarryJuku Not sure if it's supposed to be a lame joke or you're just having a oxygen deficiency in your head.Â
Harry is just a pitiful troll with nothing better to do. He hates his life and feels the need to take it out on everybody else.