Fran Howe and Larry Tripoli built their dream home 13 years ago in Gates, about 35 miles east of Salem along the Santiam River. The couple could see the river, trees and nothing else from their big windows overlooking rural Marion County's majesty. Their house was destroyed this week and Howe and Tripoli narrowly escaped the Beachie Creek fire and spent 18 hours alongside that river before being rescued. Here's their story.
Reporter Fedor Zarkhin and photographer/videographer Brooke Herbert interviewed the couple at a Salem hotel where they are currently staying. All parties wore face coverings.
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