Batcopter creator’s home destroyed

SOAP LAKE — Looking at what is now left of his home after a structure fire Tuesday evening, Gary White of Soap Lake, known for his community involvement with his passion for all things Batman, including his replica Batcopter, admitted that he was still in shock from the events that took his home in the 500 block of Main Avenue East in Soap Lake and two of the family dogs’ lives. 

“I heard a bzzzt, but didn’t know what it was from,” White said. “Well, a minute or so later I hear (my wife) scream, and I see smoke coming out, and it happened so fast. She opened the front door to get out (as I was trying to go in the back door) and the backdraft blew me out here under the steps. Flames and everything.” 

Capt. Michael Harper with Grant County Fire District 7 said an initial investigation indicated that the fire was electrical. The department had responded to the report, which was initially coded as a general call and then changed to a fire call a little after 6 p.m. The first engine was on-scene in about 10 minutes and a second was there within 12 minutes. 

Despite the fast response, the home was fully engulfed in fire by the time teams arrived. As a result, leadership chose to mitigate damage to nearby structures and work to put the fire out rather than sending someone into the home, which would have risked human lives for a structure that was already a loss. 

The family had four dogs, and firefighters were able to save one of the Whites' dogs by removing it from the home and taking it to get oxygen. White said he appreciated the firefighters’ efforts to help him and to save the animal. Unfortunately, two other dogs were killed by the fire, despite White attempting to crawl to them to remove them from the building. The fire was just too intense, he said. 

White said his wife, Brandy, was particularly distraught at the loss of the dogs.

Help from the community has been coming in and White said he appreciates the generosity of Soap Lake and the surrounding area, especially his church, the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Ephrata. 

Michelle Miller, who stopped by the home with gifts of support from the congregation, said the church would support the Whites as they navigated recovering from the fire. She said her phone had been getting alerts constantly with offers of support from congregants. 

“We’re going to surround you guys with support,” Miller told White. 

White said his home insurance had been canceled a few months ago due to the home needing a new roof, so he and his wife had no coverage for their possessions or to rebuild. The second structure on the property that he refers to as his Bat Museum can be made into a liveable home, but the side nearest the main home is damaged and will need work to get it there. He was hoping representatives from the Red Cross would be able to connect him with the resources he needed to make that happen, but it was still too early to know what that would look like. 

Community members, many who have a great fondness for White’s appearance as Batman in parades with his helicopter, have been stopping by to offer additional support, White said. One person even gave him the shoes they were wearing because he didn’t have shoes available. The community has even set up a GoFundMe page at https://bit.ly/BATSUPPORT to help White and his family recover. As of Wednesday evening, $2,850 had been raised out of the $15,000 goal. 

White said the helicopter, one he’d worked hard to make into a replica outside of the different tail number, had been damaged and would need a new bubble to be made usable again, along with other repairs. The van he tows it with and other possessions had been damaged by the heat from the fire as well. 

White has collected helicopters, specifically Bell 47G helicopters, for a long time. A collection of models stored upstairs in the home was destroyed in addition to the real helicopter stored near the home being damaged, he said. His fascination with Batman was part of that love and his love of the Adam West television series inspired much of his collection in the museum.

Harper said fighting the fire was complicated by onlookers gathering and getting in the way or becoming distractions for first responders. With the toxic smoke from the house fire and the heat, some onlookers needed aid from the nearby ambulance crew to deal with smoke inhalation. He said people need to be aware that firefighters need space to work and that they should avoid active fire scenes to ensure firefighters can focus on their work. 

Harper also said GCFD 7 was grateful for aid from the Ephrata Fire Department, Grant County Fire District 13, the Soap Lake Police Department and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. The scene of the fire was cleared at around 11 p.m.

White said he’s grateful for the support he and his family are receiving, and he hopes to see a way to recover so he can spread joy with his copter again.

“I just love watching everybody smile, you know, that’s what it’s all about for me,” he said.

R. Hans “Rob” Miller may be reached at editor@columbiabasinherald.com. 

    The Batcopter replica, inspired by the 1960s “Batman” TV series, operated by Gary White was damaged in the fire that took White’s home. He said the bubble at the front of the craft would need to be replaced and would cost thousands of dollars.
  

    Char and ash lie on the floor of the second small home that sits on the property White’s main residence had been on prior to the fire. Damage from the blaze caused much of the back wall to burn and the inside of the home smelled strongly of smoke from the fire that destroyed the adjacent building.