Some residents of Yarnell, which was devastated earlier this year by the deathly fire through the area, are in their rebuilt homes in time for the holidays. Some certificates of occupancy are expected today, allowing homeowners to move in to the homes.
Steve and Debi Keehner shared the celebration with supporters are a ribbon-cutting ceremony of their rebuilt house. The Keehner’s were uninsured, so the rebuild was made possible by the Yarnell Hill Recovery Group, and many other generous parties.
Friday, a home tour of the area included five homes that were rebuilt for uninsured homeowners by the Yarnell Hill Recovery Group using donated funds and mostly volunteer labor. They include three site-built homes in various stages of construction, and two completed manufactured homes.
The sixth home is the first site-built home to be completed for an insured homeowner. That home was built by Mike Manone and Yarnell Homes,Yarnell’s newest business. Manone came to Yarnell as a volunteer and stayed. He is rebuilding two homes for insured homeowners (one was the first home to break ground after the fire) and celebrated the grand opening of his business last month.
The Yarnell Hill Recovery Group committed to replacing nine homes for uninsured primary homeowners at no cost to the homeowners. Three groups volunteered most of the labor: Apostolic Christian World Relief, Mennonite Disaster Services and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
The first two site-built homes are in the final stages of construction and residents should be in the homes before Christmas.
Four more site-built homes are in various stages of construction and should be finished in January.
The last of three Cavco manufactured homes, purchased from Best Buy Homes in Prescott Valley, was installed Dec. 10. Two will be on the tour, including one modified to accommodate a wheelchair-bound resident.
“We are very grateful for the donations of time and money that allowed us to replace these homes,” said YHRG Steering Committee Chair Chuck Tidey. “But there is still a lot to be done. This is just the first step in a long recovery that we anticipate will take two or three years.”
About Yarnell Hill Recovery Group
Exiled from their homes and divided by the closure of Highway 89, a group of 20 Yarnell and Peeples Valley residents conferred in person and by phone about how to rebuild their fire-ravaged community.
Out of that conversation, the all-volunteer Yarnell Hill Recovery Group was formed with a steering committee made up of five key leaders representing organizations that have long provided services to residents: the Yarnell-Peeples Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Yarnell Community Center, the Yarnell Community Presbyterian Church, the Peeples Valley Fire Department and People Who Care-Weaver Mountains.
Under the direction of the steering committee, a dozen volunteer sub-committees have been formed to provide resources for everything from emergency housing and financial assistance to clean up and rebuilding. The group’s website, www.YarnellHillRecoveryGroup.org, provides a single place for residents to get news about recovery efforts and connect with services.
The group has been recognized by Arizona and Yavapai County as the official recovery group for the Yarnell Hill Fire. The Steering Committee was recently recognized for its outstanding work by Yavapai County.
The Yarnell Community Presbyterian Church, acting as the Yarnell Hill Recovery Group’s fiscal agent, has set up an account for the Yarnell Hill Recovery Group though the National Bank of Arizona, account #76 0000 2730, Routing #122105320. There is a Pay Pal button for donations at www.YarnellHillRecoveryGroup.org. Checks payable to Yarnell Hill Recovery Group can be sent to Yarnell Hill Recovery Group, P.O. Box 1086, Yarnell, 85362. Donations are tax-deductible.
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