I knew Jason H. Ensign for 16 years and can tell you one thing: Jason, the dozer operator who died in the Wrights Spring Fire, was more than just a hero who gave his life while trying to protect his community from the threat of wildfire—he was a proud girl dad.

Anyone who knew Jason also knows that he would never have created a GoFundMe for himself. Jason was a hard worker. He wasn't someone who wanted or expected other people to take care of him. In fact, it was usually the other way around. Jason was the helper. He was the guy who showed up, went to work, and did what needed to be done.

And when it came to his daughter, there was nothing he wouldn't do.

She was Jason's greatest joy and, without question, the person he loved most in this world. He was incredibly proud of her, and being her dad was one of the most important parts of who he was.

Jason's death has taken away so many moments that should have belonged to the two of them. He won't get to watch her continue to build her life. He won't get to walk her down the aisle someday. He won't get to meet his future grandchildren or watch her become a mother. He won't be there for the ordinary phone calls, the advice, the celebrations, the hard days, or all of the little moments between a father and daughter that no one thinks about until suddenly they are gone.

And he won't have the opportunity to continue doing what he would have done for the rest of his life: loving her, protecting her, and supporting her in every way he could.

Jason paid the ultimate price for what happened on the Wrights Spring Fire, but his daughter is the one who will live with that loss for the rest of her life.

That is why, with the blessing of Jason's family, I've created this fundraiser.

There are immediate expenses that come with a sudden and tragic loss like this, and those expenses should not become another burden for his daughter and family to carry while they are grieving. More importantly, we would like to give his daughter some breathing room—to allow her to grieve the loss of her dad without immediately having to worry about returning to work, paying bills, or figuring out how to navigate all of the practical realities that continue even when her world has suddenly stopped.

Nothing raised here can give her back her dad. It cannot replace the years she should have had with him or any of the moments they have lost.

But maybe we can help Jason do one last thing for his daughter.

We can make sure that, for a little while, she has the support and security her dad would have wanted to provide himself.

If Jason ever helped you, made you laugh, worked beside you, called you a friend, or if his sacrifice during the Wrights Spring Fire simply touched you, please consider helping us return some of that kindness to the person who meant more to him than anyone else.

Every donation, no matter the amount, will go toward helping Jason's daughter and family with the expenses associated with his passing and providing his daughter with financial support as she grieves and begins the incredibly difficult task of moving forward without her dad.

Jason spent his life working hard, helping others, and taking care of the people he loved.

Now it's our turn to help take care of his girl.