Malden opens new community building five years after fire

Section:Gallery

Thu., May 29, 2025

Officials from the city, Whitman County and the state of Washington and representatives of many benefactors and donors join in to cut the ribbon outside the new community building Thursday in Malden, Wash. The building also houses the library, the food bank and a community meeting room and kitchen. Malden, located in Whitman County, was destroyed by a fire on Labor Day in 2020.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
A crowd disperses after city, Whitman County and the state of Washington and representatives of many benefactors and donors had cut the ribbon outside the new community building in Malden, Washington Thursday, May 29, 2025 in the small Whitman County town that burned in wildfires on Labor Day of 2020. The building also houses the library, the food bank and a community meeting room with a kitchen.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Officials from the city, Whitman County and the state of Washington and representatives of many benefactors and donors join in to cut the ribbon outside the new community building in Malden, Washington Thursday, Maty 29, 2025 in the small Whitman County town that burned in wildfires on Labor Day of 2020. The building also houses the library, the food bank and a community meeting room and kitchen.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Malden Mayor Dan Harwood, right, wipes away a tear after presenting a plaque to longtime city clerk Micki Harnois, left, for her faithfulness through the five years since wildfires on Labor Day of 2020.. Officials cut the ribbon on the new community building in Malden, Washington Thursday, May 29, 2025 in the small Whitman County town that burned in 2020.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Malden Mayor Dan Harwood, right, hugs Shelly O’Quinn of the Innovia Foundation, which has helped in various ways with the town’s recovery since wildfires that took more than 60 houses on Labor Day 2020. Officials cut the ribbon on the new community building Thursday in Malden, Wash.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Malden Mayor Dan Harwood, right, shakes hands with Paul Kimmel of Avista Utilities who has helped in various ways with the town's recovery after the five years since wildfires that took more than 60 houses on Labor Day of 2020.. Officials cut the ribbon on the new community building in Malden, Washington Thursday, May 29, 2025 in the small Whitman County town that burned in 2020.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Sheet cakes reading "Malden Strong" are cut and shared after city, Whitman County and the state of Washington representatives had cut the ribbon outside the new community building in Malden, Washington Thursday, May 29, 2025 in the small Whitman County town that burned in wildfires on Labor Day of 2020. The building also houses the library, the food bank and a community meeting room with a kitchen.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The food bank space inside the new community building in Malden, Washington has walk-in freezers and storage and prep space, shown Thursday, May 29, 2025 in the small Whitman County town that burned in wildfires on Labor Day of 2020.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The meeting room has a commercial space inside the new community building in Malden, Washington, shown Thursday, May 29, 2025 in the small Whitman County town that burned in wildfires on Labor Day of 2020.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The Malden library is nside the new community building in Malden, Washington, shown Thursday, May 29, 2025 in the small Whitman County town that burned in wildfires on Labor Day of 2020.The building also had a multipurpose room with akitchen and the foodbank.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review