Last Saturday (June 21st), our son, Brent Weber Jr., lost his home, his livelihood, and just about everything he owns to the Bear Creek Wildfire in interior Alaska. When the wind came up and the fire shifted, he almost lost his life.

Brent purchased his land from the state and spent the last 15 years developing it, building a home, and two rental cabins. The work was painstakingly done by hand in traditional Alaskan style. Guests at his Airbnb left rave reviews about the craftsmanship and the level of service he provided.

The remoteness of the property made it uninsurable for fire. Most of Brent’s savings were spent earlier this summer purchasing supplies to finish another guest cabin. Everything was lost to the fire.

On Sunday, friends and family began sending small donations. Monday, my daughter’s employer, Construction Machinery Industrial, gave her a $500 check to pass along. In a typical Alaskan “can-do” spirit, Brent said, “That will buy me a chainsaw to get going again.”

We set up this GoFundMe page to make it easier for everyone who wants to help. The goal is to raise enough money for Brent to clear the fire damage, build a temporary living structure for himself, and establish something to generate rental income, thereby bootstrapping himself back into business.

Thank you,

Brent & Christine Weber

Eagle River, Alaska