Local News

Local writer’s song becomes the soundtrack to fire recovery efforts

Jul 01, 2015

Brittany Jean Walker is a 23-year-old singer/songwriter who recorded her first album, “Whispered Stories,” in Nashville in 2013. That was the same year she moved with her family to Brewster, Washington, where she was living when the Carlton Complex Fire—the largest wildfire in Washington history—tore through her town, destroying 65 homes--more than 20% of the housing stock. She wrote the song “Wildfire” in its aftermath, capturing the uncertainty and dread of the wildfire’s approach—and also the affirmation that “we’re stronger than our fears,” even as…“the homes we built are burning down…to the ground.”

After Christmas 2014, Brittany presented a copy of the “Nashville Studio Version of Wildfire” to Jon Wyss, chair of the Carlton Complex Long Term Recovery Group (CCLTRG), who shared it with Carlene Anders, executive director of the CCLTRG. Anders was looking for a soundtrack to her informational video about the fire (www.carltoncomplexrecovery.com/video/) and “Wildfire” was perfect.

Brittany Jean not only allowed the CCLTRG to use her song free of charge, she is donating all proceeds from its website download and benefit performances from July 1 through July 21, 2015, to the Carlton Complex Long Term Recovery effort. She also is opening for this year’s Winthrop Rhythm and Blues Festival on Friday, July 17, with a live performance of “Wildfire.” To download the song, visit www.carltoncomplexrecovery.com/wildfire/.

Although she "can't fight fires," Brittany Jean says, she can write and sing songs. “That’s my way of giving something back to people who lost so much.”

For more information about Carlton Complex recovery efforts, or to donate, visit CarltonComplexRecovery.com. All donations are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.