Rally for Chris & Barbara Murray: CZU Fire 2020
Donation protected
Homes tell stories.
This is the story of our family home on Empire Grade in Bonny Doon. It’s about Chris and Barbara Murray, our parents, who owned and curated the home for over three decades before it was abruptly taken from them on Wednesday, August 19th, 2020 by the CZU Lightning Complex Fire in Santa Cruz, California.
In 1978 Mom and Dad bought a secluded one-acre property in the lush mountains of Santa Cruz. The original cabin wasn't small. . . it was cozy. Mom and Dad made it work for the three of us. A few years later, when Travis was born there, they made it work for the four of us.
In that rustic, woodsy cabin, lived our little family unit of four...as well as two dogs, a couple of cats, and an assortment of woodland critters.
Anyway, as my brother and I started growing and growing....and growing some more, Mom and Dad set their sights on building a larger home at Empire Grade. In 1988, they torn down the old cabin and built our new home.
We celebrated anniversaries, football wins, birthdays, holidays, and graduations. We mourned fallen family and friends, and we weathered earthquakes. This was our place. Our castle.
Our home had Murray stories inscribed in its walls and foundation, like the times when Bud the dog regularly licked the sliding glass door (#UglyDogFaces) in front of the dinner table, inducing total hysterics. The photo below is not a one-off by the way. This was an every night show.
But then came the unprecedented Bay Area lightning storms of August 2020.
In 48 hours, more than 7000 lightning strikes ignited 350 fires that spread . . . fast. Mom and Dad evacuated with Indy the dog, their current canine companion. Not even 24 hours after evacuating, our Murray homestead on Empire Grade was gone.
It's. . . just. . . gone.
This was not just a structure. It was our home, and we loved it. It was full of laughter, love, and unparalleled hospitality. Mom and Dad cherish the people they know and meet—locally and around the world. If you meet our parents, Barbara and Chris Murray—even once—you are never again a stranger.
We know it is a difficult time. If you're able to spare it, even a little goes a long, long way towards their recovery. We are incredibly grateful.
Money raised will be used to meet Mom and Dad's most immediate emergency needs: food, clothes, shoes, shelter, medicines, and veterinary care for Indy the dog, a golden retriever in his golden years.
If you can't donate--we totally understand! Perhaps you have skills, trades, crafts, resources, abilities, or other ideas or ways to help.
Please visit our secure How Else I Can Help survey and let us know!
The Murray home on Empire Grade gave rise to some of the best stories. With a little help and a lot of hope from all of us, our parents can build a new life together, treasure old memories, and create new stories.
Thank you,
Cody & Travis Murray
This is the story of our family home on Empire Grade in Bonny Doon. It’s about Chris and Barbara Murray, our parents, who owned and curated the home for over three decades before it was abruptly taken from them on Wednesday, August 19th, 2020 by the CZU Lightning Complex Fire in Santa Cruz, California.
In 1978 Mom and Dad bought a secluded one-acre property in the lush mountains of Santa Cruz. The original cabin wasn't small. . . it was cozy. Mom and Dad made it work for the three of us. A few years later, when Travis was born there, they made it work for the four of us.
In that rustic, woodsy cabin, lived our little family unit of four...as well as two dogs, a couple of cats, and an assortment of woodland critters.
Anyway, as my brother and I started growing and growing....and growing some more, Mom and Dad set their sights on building a larger home at Empire Grade. In 1988, they torn down the old cabin and built our new home.
We celebrated anniversaries, football wins, birthdays, holidays, and graduations. We mourned fallen family and friends, and we weathered earthquakes. This was our place. Our castle.
Our home had Murray stories inscribed in its walls and foundation, like the times when Bud the dog regularly licked the sliding glass door (#UglyDogFaces) in front of the dinner table, inducing total hysterics. The photo below is not a one-off by the way. This was an every night show.
But then came the unprecedented Bay Area lightning storms of August 2020.
In 48 hours, more than 7000 lightning strikes ignited 350 fires that spread . . . fast. Mom and Dad evacuated with Indy the dog, their current canine companion. Not even 24 hours after evacuating, our Murray homestead on Empire Grade was gone.
It's. . . just. . . gone.
This was not just a structure. It was our home, and we loved it. It was full of laughter, love, and unparalleled hospitality. Mom and Dad cherish the people they know and meet—locally and around the world. If you meet our parents, Barbara and Chris Murray—even once—you are never again a stranger.
We know it is a difficult time. If you're able to spare it, even a little goes a long, long way towards their recovery. We are incredibly grateful.
Money raised will be used to meet Mom and Dad's most immediate emergency needs: food, clothes, shoes, shelter, medicines, and veterinary care for Indy the dog, a golden retriever in his golden years.
If you can't donate--we totally understand! Perhaps you have skills, trades, crafts, resources, abilities, or other ideas or ways to help.
Please visit our secure How Else I Can Help survey and let us know!
The Murray home on Empire Grade gave rise to some of the best stories. With a little help and a lot of hope from all of us, our parents can build a new life together, treasure old memories, and create new stories.
Thank you,
Cody & Travis Murray
Organizer
Cody Murray
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
