When Daniel Baergen, a volunteer firefighter of over 20 years with Grant County Fire District No. 6, left church Sunday morning with his wife, Dawn Baergen, they had hoped to make a quick trip to the grocery store and get back home in time for the Seahawks game.
Only hours after Gov. Jay Inslee announced that restaurants would have to close indoor dining by Wednesday, the pair decided to go out to eat one last time, grabbing lunch in Ephrata and ordering their groceries online while they waited. They expected to pick up their groceries and quickly leave, but the store was chaos, as panic buying swept the state. It took well over an hour before they were able to leave town and start heading back home in Coulee City.
At the time, it was a frustrating delay. By the end of the day, the Baergen’s were convinced it was an act of God.
Driving back home on state Route 17, the Baergens were passing by Lake Lenore near Soap Lake when they saw a man on the side of the road waving them down. Slowing the vehicle, Daniel saw smoke drifting into the air just past the man.