Last Sunday, Nov 30, while Jessy and Slade’s family slept, heat from their stove pipe ignited the bathroom floor upstairs and the ceilings of the living room, kitchen, and laundry room below. Jessy is a notoriously deep sleeper, so the fact that she woke up to that wall of smoke is a miracle.

She and Slade got all six kids out fast. Slade, his brother Flint, and a couple of nephews fought the fire until the crew arrived about fifteen minutes later and salvaged the rest. Thank goodness the worst didn’t happen!

The Damage

Estimating $10k right now. The fire burned through floor joists, plumbing, wiring, and the entire primary bathroom. The water lines that melted were spraying, and Slade was quick to redirect them to buckets, which helped slow the fire under the floor. Even still, a few ceilings collapsed leaving debris everywhere, and now the family is squeezed into a tiny rental while they figure out the next steps.

Why This Is Urgent

Jessy is 28 weeks pregnant and has been contracting since the fire, so she’s on bed rest. Rebuilding while trying to keep a baby safely inside is tough enough, and Christmas landing right in the middle of all this isn’t helping.

How Donations Will Help

Every dollar goes straight to essential repairs, allowing them to get back under their own roof: replacing burned floor joists, restoring plumbing and wiring, rebuilding the primary bathroom, installing new flooring, and providing materials and labor to make the home safe and livable. Anything beyond the minimum eases the strain on a family already stretched to the limit.

Why I’m Asking

Jessy and Slade did everything right! They protected their kids and fought the flames. Now they need some help.

If you can donate anything this holiday season, thank you. If you can share, thank you twice. Every little bit helps!