On August 19, 2025, our lives changed when a fire started in a neighboring RV and quickly spread to our home. My husband and I, along with our five animals, were fortunate to escape without injury, but the damage to our home and daily life has been overwhelming. The fire burned for hours, and we weren’t allowed to see the inside of our house until late that night. By then, we had already lost all of our refrigerated and frozen food, and the electrical wiring throughout the house needed to be redone. The smoke and fire left us with ruined curtains, bedding, and clothing, and the majority of our clothes are now heavily affected by smoke odor. We’re facing a long, ongoing process to clean and restore our home, needing special detergents and cleaning supplies to get rid of the smoke smell for good.

Right now, we’re staying with my in-laws because the Red Cross couldn’t help with housing for all of us and our animals. The emotional toll has been heavy—my husband and I both felt helpless, wishing we could have done more to prevent the loss. Missing work immediately after the fire put us in a tough financial spot, as we are the only sources of income for our single-family home. We lost a significant amount of income in just one day and have had to make multiple trips between Calimesa and Cabazon to recover our valuables, adding to our expenses.

We’re grateful for the friends who have reached out and offered to help, and for anyone willing to read or share our story. Any support will go directly toward replacing lost food, repairing minor damages, and helping us get back on our feet. Thank you for being part of our recovery and for helping us move forward after this unexpected disaster.