Paul’s Place: Help for Hospital Bills & Rebuilding

On October 15th the landscape of South Venice and the lives of Paul Horvat, his family and friends were rocked. That afternoon, Paul and his friend, Neil Cameron, were reloading ammo.  Paul’s Place, his oversized “garage-mahal” was a gathering spot for countless friends and neighbors from near and far. Paul designed and built it with his good friend and architect Kirk Silliman to withstand a Category 4 Hurricane. It could not however withstand the explosion and subsequent two alarm fire that occurred that afternoon.

There was no visible fire when the fire department arrived just four minutes after Neil placed the initial 911 call. Both men had extensive ship board training in the United States Navy and British Maritime Navy respectively. They were able to control hot spots however the nature of a lifetime of hobbies: welding, gunsmithing, reloading ammo, working on large and small engines made securing this site a dangerous endeavor. Shortly after the fire department arrived, a large black plume of smoke was seen pouring out of the roof. 

Paul and Neil were loaded onto ambulances badly burned but able to communicate en route to helicopters waiting to take them to Blake Medical, an area Burn Center an hour away by car. Paul’s wife, Trina was evacuated from the house, ten yards from the garage and remained to witness her husband’s years of hard work, collections of tools gathered over a lifetime burn for over an hour. The next day the garage would be condemned by the county as it threatened to fall on both Paul and Trina’s home of 25 years and that of their neighbors, a young family who moved in during COVID. An excavator was brought in on a semi and leveled walls that were strong enough to withstand 156 mile an hour winds.

The stream of cars filled with neighbors and friends passing the site checking on Paul and Neil has been inspiring. So many routinely passed through Paul’s Place to chat, see what projects he was working on, ask for fix-it advice, or just hang out and see who else would come on by. They are now asking for updates as Paul and Neil are fighting to survive. Paul suffered third degree burns over 25% of his body, Neil third degree burns over 60%. Initially Paul was walking around his ICU room talking but now he is on a ventilator and his family is by his side waiting to hear his countless stories one more time. 

Funds raised will help with medical expenses, in just three weeks Paul has endured three surgeries, each four hours long to treat his burns, as well as treating additional complications not related to his injuries. The site of the garage-mahal must be cleared and Paul’s Place is waiting to be rebuilt to welcome back all of those who have walked through those shop doors.

God’s hand has been felt throughout this entire ordeal.  We are feeling the power of countless hearts praying for healing and restoration.