Help Sheldon Rebuild
Donation protected
Many of our family, friends, and community have asked how they can help, so we have set up this GoFundMe for my Uncle Sheldon, who lost everything in a devastating forest fire on September 7th in Otis, OR. Sheldon would never ask for money, and would rather give than receive. We feel that he deserves to be lifted up during this time of need and help him rebuild his home and everything that was taken from him. Sheldon poured his heart and soul into the home he built with his own hands when I was just a baby. He filled it with wonderful memories, items from travels around the world, and family heirlooms. All of which cannot be replaced.
Late Monday September 7th, Sheldon’s neighbors who lived just down the road saw ash and burning embers flying around outside their windows. They quickly realized a massive fire, started by high winds knocking down a power line, was quickly spreading between their property and Sheldons. Despite it being a dry summer, the area was not under any kind of fire warning/watch. Sheldon’s neighbors knew he was home and got in their truck to try and go save him. They found his driveway blocked by fire and falling debris from his shed that was fully engulfed in flames. The neighbor’s wife refused to leave Sheldon behind and jumped out of the truck and found a way to get around the fire and raced up to his house. She began pounding on his windows and then on the sliding glass door in an attempt to wake him up. Sheldon woke up confused as to what was going on and opened the sliding glass door and then she yelled at him “We have to go now, your house and barns are on fire”.
Sheldon looked up and realized that one end of his home was already engulfed in flames that were rapidly spreading. He didn’t have time to grab any possessions other than one tennis shoe, one croc that laid near the door and the clothes that were already on his back. Once out of the house Sheldon turned and saw a 40-50 foot wall of flames rapidly encroaching on his property and realized that they would not be able to get out using a vehicle. At this time the group decided that attempting to race North down the mountain and through the woods would be their only chance of making it out alive. The group of three took off in the pitch black through thick falling ash and a blizzard of burning embers. They ran for about 5 miles before they were able to meet up Sheldon’s girlfriend Tanya and a couple other guys with chainsaws that were cutting down trees and logs in order to get them the rest of the way out of the woods.
While losing everything is extremely painful and the circumstances are hard to believe, the most important thing is that Sheldon is alive. We are extremely grateful for Sheldon’s neighbors for refusing to leave him behind and their determination to get to him. If it weren’t for them, Sheldon would not be alive today. Everyone’s quick thinking is what got them out alive that night.
We are doing this because so many people have asked how they can help Sheldon get back on his feet. Any donation, no matter the size is greatly appreciated. Sheldon would prefer to help others, even during his own time of need, but we need to help support him so that he can help others. Below are some before and after pictures of my uncles beautiful home and what this devastating fire has done to his property. The picture of the active fire was taken by an individual that was on the next mountain over witnessing the whole event.
Late Monday September 7th, Sheldon’s neighbors who lived just down the road saw ash and burning embers flying around outside their windows. They quickly realized a massive fire, started by high winds knocking down a power line, was quickly spreading between their property and Sheldons. Despite it being a dry summer, the area was not under any kind of fire warning/watch. Sheldon’s neighbors knew he was home and got in their truck to try and go save him. They found his driveway blocked by fire and falling debris from his shed that was fully engulfed in flames. The neighbor’s wife refused to leave Sheldon behind and jumped out of the truck and found a way to get around the fire and raced up to his house. She began pounding on his windows and then on the sliding glass door in an attempt to wake him up. Sheldon woke up confused as to what was going on and opened the sliding glass door and then she yelled at him “We have to go now, your house and barns are on fire”.
Sheldon looked up and realized that one end of his home was already engulfed in flames that were rapidly spreading. He didn’t have time to grab any possessions other than one tennis shoe, one croc that laid near the door and the clothes that were already on his back. Once out of the house Sheldon turned and saw a 40-50 foot wall of flames rapidly encroaching on his property and realized that they would not be able to get out using a vehicle. At this time the group decided that attempting to race North down the mountain and through the woods would be their only chance of making it out alive. The group of three took off in the pitch black through thick falling ash and a blizzard of burning embers. They ran for about 5 miles before they were able to meet up Sheldon’s girlfriend Tanya and a couple other guys with chainsaws that were cutting down trees and logs in order to get them the rest of the way out of the woods.
While losing everything is extremely painful and the circumstances are hard to believe, the most important thing is that Sheldon is alive. We are extremely grateful for Sheldon’s neighbors for refusing to leave him behind and their determination to get to him. If it weren’t for them, Sheldon would not be alive today. Everyone’s quick thinking is what got them out alive that night.
We are doing this because so many people have asked how they can help Sheldon get back on his feet. Any donation, no matter the size is greatly appreciated. Sheldon would prefer to help others, even during his own time of need, but we need to help support him so that he can help others. Below are some before and after pictures of my uncles beautiful home and what this devastating fire has done to his property. The picture of the active fire was taken by an individual that was on the next mountain over witnessing the whole event.
Organiser and beneficiary
Carolyn Gallagher
Organiser
Plano, TX
Sheldon Doughty
Beneficiary