Oak Fire Relief Fund - Henry Wants to Go Home

On July 22, 2022, the Oak Fire was sparked near the community of Midpines between Mariposa and Yosemite National Park. This fast-moving fire left everyone in its path with little time to reach safety. My sister was working nearby when her husband Carson called to tell her that he saw smoke on the ridge. She raced to the property and had barely enough time to escape with her son Henry (4). The fire came roaring down the hill and destroyed their beautiful property. Firefighters were able to save their house from the fire, but the infrastructure to support their off grid home was destroyed into a pile of ash.

Sara and Carson have worked incredibly hard to build a beautiful life together on Buckingham Mountain. When they purchased the property, it had no infrastructure or buildings. They took the wild property and built a family home for their young son. Henry's parents lovingly call their property Henry's Hill. Carson has deep ties to the area since he grew up with his parents nearby in El Portal, spent his summers on the river, and is a member of the Sierra Miwok Tribe. He grew up in those mountains, and that is why he chose this property to raise his family. Everyone that knows Carson and Sara knows they are generous, hardworking, kind people with big hearts.

Sara and Carson bought the property in Midpines 5 years ago. They personally milled all the wood for their home from their property and then hand-built it side-by-side with the help of some special friends and family. It took 3 years for them to get the property cleared, wood milled, structures built, and buy all the necessities needed for a tiny home off the grid. Henry's Hill was a beautifully forested area. Their garden was beautiful and gave their small family hearty vegetables and herbs throughout the year. They work incredibly hard to maintain their land to ensure their family a comfortable and safe homestead. The day prior to the fire, they were finishing up some weeding and clearing to ensure they kept the defensible space to protect their home in case of an unimaginable event like a wildfire. We strongly believe that this hard work of maintaining their land saved their house on July 22.

My family and I put together this page because we know that Sara and Carson would never ask their family, friends, or fellow mountain community for help or donations. Our intention is to help relieve some of their financial stress for them as they continue to embrace the loss of their beautiful land and try to find a way to get back into their home. The Oak Fire may not have taken the house, but it did destroy all of the infrastructure needed for them to be able to live in their home. The fire destroyed their water tank and water lines that brought water to their house. The solar power system was destroyed as well. All the milled lumber that they had for future building projects and income are now a pile of ash. There are no more trees to cut down and mill. The trees will take generations to come back. The landscape for miles and miles is forever changed. They need water and power for Henry to return home.

Without the basic infrastructure, the property they call home is currently unlivable. Sara, Carson, and little Henry are currently having to stay with different family members until they can get the items needed to make life possible in their own home. This has been incredibly hard for them. All they want to do is bring their son back to his home. We need to help them start repairing their home and putting the pieces back together for them since the financial burden of trying to replace the necessities is too great for just one family. Funds will be used to replace the water tanks, water hosing, and solar so they can return home.

From the bottom of our hearts, we greatly appreciate any donation, no matter the size, along with any prayers, good thoughts, and positive energy you can send their way. All funds will be placed in an account and given directly to Sara and Carson. Thank you!