John lost his home and nearly everything he owned in a devastating fire (Hawk fire). John is 66 years old and spent his life working as a tradesman. He raised his daughter as a single dad, and for many years he was also a bonus dad to me. His home was a place where his daughter and I spent countless hours growing up — a place full of more than 30 years of memories.

When John returned home after going out to breakfast, he could see the smoke from the fire approaching from the other side of the hill. By the time he reached his home, fire crews were there, but as the fire moved closer, the situation changed quickly. John began trying to gather what he could to evacuate, including his motorcycle and dirt bike, but the smoke became so thick that he couldn't breathe or see well enough to get them loaded. With the smoke detectors going off throughout the house, John searched through the smoke until he finally found his dog, Q. He got her into his truck and drove away.

That's what he was able to save: Q, his truck, and the clothes he was wearing.

His home is gone. Three decades of tools that he depended on for his trade are gone. And with them went countless irreplaceable memories.

Funds raised will help with:

At 66, John is facing the overwhelming task of starting over from scratch. John is currently staying with a friend while he works through the insurance process. There is an RV on the property that was spared from the fire, although it will likely need to be cleaned and assessed for smoke damage. John hopes to eventually move into it while he figures out what comes next. In the meantime, he needs the basics — clothing, toiletries, food, a coffee pot, and the countless everyday things we don't realize we rely on until they're suddenly gone.

If you know John, you know how hard he has worked throughout his life. If you don't know him, please consider helping give John a little stability while he begins rebuilding his life. Every donation, no matter the amount, will help John get back on his feet and begin rebuilding from the ashes. After losing nearly everything in a matter of hours, John has a long road ahead of him. Thank you for helping us give him a little stability as he begins to rebuild.