Hi everyone, I’m Hailz, and I’m writing this GoFundMe on behalf of a dear friend, Ryan Fischer, who suffered an unimaginable loss in a house fire in the early hours of January 1st, 2026. On New Year's Eve, with temperatures at -35°F in Fairbanks, Alaska, Ryan was out helping others get home safely as a designated driver. While he was driving someone 30 minutes out of town, he received the call that the cabin he was renting was on fire. In true Ryan fashion, he made sure to finish helping his passenger before heading back, only to find his home completely lost to the flames.

Ryan’s sweet cats, Aoife and Scáthach, were taken by the fire. As a fellow pet owner, I can only imagine the pain he is experiencing. The girls were incredibly special and helped Ryan through some of his darkest times. Due to the extreme cold and the water used to fight the fire, he won’t be able to retrieve their remains until summer due to the ice. Along with the loss of his pets, Ryan lost all of his writing and art including over 100 finished poems ready to publish, countless works in progress, and all of his art supplies, tools, outdoor gear, clothing, books, and sentimental items. Even his trusty backpack, usually with him, was left at home that night to make room for more passengers. He had a backup of his writing on a flash drive in case anything were to happen with his laptop, though this was also at home. There is some hope that maybe this flash drive could be recovered.

The fire marshal believes an electrical outlet caused the fire, and unfortunately, neither the landlord’s insurance nor any renter’s insurance will cover Ryan’s losses. He was staying in the cabin short-term and hadn’t thought to get renter’s insurance, as many of us wouldn’t. Ryan was hoping to buy his own cabin later this year, but now faces starting over from scratch. He is currently receiving some assistance from the Air Force and staying in a friend’s cabin, but he needs help to replace his belongings and get through this dark chapter in his story.

To quantify the cost of everything lost in the fire is impossible because, in addition to the grief of the loss of the girls, he lost the physical life he built over decades. Ryan isn’t materialistic, but the passions that make him who he is like ice climbing, rock climbing, skiing, hiking, camping, painting, sewing, linocutting, all require specialized equipment. They are how he connects to the world and his community. Without them, those parts of his life are inaccessible.

The initial goal of the fundraiser is $13,000. This GoFundMe is more than about replacing things, it’s about getting Ryan back to where he can feel whole again. At some point in life, we all need a little extra support. Thank you for considering being that for Ryan. Every $25 helps and anything you can give is truly appreciated. Please consider sharing this link with your community even if you aren’t in a place to help financially.

For the basics we all take for granted, the estimate is $3,500. This covers things like furniture, a mattress, home goods, clothing, and high-quality winter layers and boots required for the Fairbanks winter.

Outdoor and camping gear estimate is $4,500. Rebuilding his gear to access the mountains is a huge undertaking in such a rugged environment. For example, ice climbing boots alone can cost between $500-$1,000, and a sleeping bag warm enough for the Alaskan cold easily runs the same. Ryan is an avid thrifter and already looking for secondhand gear to make these funds go as far as possible.

Creative equipment estimate is $3,000. This is for the equipment he needs to start creating again, including a laptop for his writing, a sewing machine, art supplies, power tools.

Odds and ends estimate is $2,000. This is for everything else like backpacks, headphones, phone chargers, shoes that you don't realize are gone until you go to reach for them.