Rod Smith’s Journey of Resilience after Autumn Lane Fire
SPOKANE, Wash. — Rod Smith is on a path to rebuild both his life and his business following a devastating fire that destroyed Big Rod’s Texas BBQ two months ago. The fire, part of the Spokane-area blaze, caused significant damage, wiping out Smith’s prep shop and storage facility.
Smith estimates losses at around a couple of hundred thousand dollars, including two brand-new ovens and nearly 1,000 pounds of meat. However, the emotional toll of losing irreplaceable family keepsakes weighs more heavily on him. “Out of everything, if I can have the video tapes back of my mom, that was hard,” he shared.
Originally from Texas, Smith moved to the Inland Northwest, drawn by the area’s beauty and atmosphere. His life took a turn when the Autumn Lane fire ignited on August 1. As Level Three evacuations were issued, he and his wife quickly gathered essentials and evacuated, towing their business trailer. Upon returning a few days later, they found their home intact, but their business shop was gone.
Despite the setback, Smith is resolute about rebuilding. The remains of the shop have been cleared, and discussions about construction are underway. He hopes to reopen by April, implementing significant safety changes to avoid a future disaster. Smith plans to relocate his business to a safer area on his property, prioritizing preventative measures like adding gravel around the premises.
This experience has imparted profound lessons about the power of nature. “I learned two lessons: how strong water is and how strong fire is. Those are things you don’t play with,” he remarked.
For now, Smith is taking things one day at a time. “The first thing you do is thank God you’re alive, then just take it day by day, a little bit at a time … and just build,” he concluded.
