By Kristin Goodwillie, Northwest Region

"It came pretty quick," said Jenna-Rae Welch as she sat on a bench with her husband, Walter, at a Red Cross wildfire evacuation shelter at Jenkins Jr./Sr. High School in Chewelah.

On Aug. 1, 2026, the Autumn Lane Fire sparked and spread rapidly, jumping a highway. At first, the couple wasn't overly concerned.

"It's scary, but at least it's a ways off," Walter said.

For years, they had kept a go-bag packed and ready in case they ever needed to evacuate. As conditions worsened, they continued preparing. They pulled out cat carriers and got ready to leave. When the Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation alert was issued, they sprang into action.

Jenna-Rae woke up her mother, and together they loaded four cats and their German shepherd, Jax, into their vehicles and left within 10 minutes.

"This was Saturday night. We caravanned and went to the shelter," Walter said.

It was their first time staying at a Red Cross shelter.

The couple said it was nearly impossible to find a hotel that could accommodate the number of pets they had. Paying for hotel rooms and separate kennel lodging would have created a significant financial burden.

They weren't even sure whether the Red Cross would allow pets when they arrived close to midnight.

"We were hoping for the best, that they would take pets," Jenna-Rae said.

Instead, they found a place where their entire family could stay together.

Allowing pets at shelters made all the difference for Jenna-Rae and Walter during an already difficult situation.

"Whatever else came, we'd have a place to eat and access to water and a bed for the night, and we'll figure it out," Jenna-Rae said. "Knowing that we had a place to stay for all of us took the stress off."

As they settled into life at the shelter, small routines helped provide a sense of normalcy. Walter and Jenna-Rae took Jax on walks around the school grounds, where he quickly established a few favorite spots to stop and sniff.

Even as shelter residents waited for updates on the fire, Jenna-Rae said volunteers helped make the experience easier.

"The volunteers have been phenomenal, friendly and helpful," she said. "It means a lot having people who can make you feel at home and reassure you that it's going to be okay right now because your other needs are met."

For Jenna-Rae and Walter, the shelter provided more than a place to sleep. It gave them a safe place to stay together with the people and pets they love while facing the uncertainty of evacuation.