Ray's Fight: Fire Tragedy to Recovery

On Saturday 6/29/2024 at 11:30pm in Steger, IL, there was a major kitchen fire that forever affected the life and the home of Raymond Cioe, our loving dad and grandfather.

This fire resulted in a trip to the emergency room and the inability for Ray to stay at his home any longer. Ray has since been released and his burns are healing well.

The home is destroyed with water and now mold damage throughout. Power, water, natural gas, has been permanently turned off. Danielle, Morgan and I have taken Dad in and we have cleared a spare bedroom and gotten a new mattress set, dresser, bed frame, a new TV, for his room hoping comfort and entertainment will help with some of this terrible pain. I do not want this to come off as an exaggeration but this situation brings tears to every one of us involved. It really is so horrific.

Ray has lived here since 1973 thats 50 years! Due to very difficult financial burdens and rising insurance costs, Ray's homeowners coverage was minimal and will barely cover $30,000 for his dwelling after paying his deductible, this is not a rebuild policy unfortunately. The estimated price to rebuild is between $130,000-$180,000+. In short it's now questionable as to whether there will even be any money to pay for the demolition of his home, let alone any thoughts of rebuild, or a different place to stay.

We are now contemplating having to donate this land to the city, as the cost to demolish will even likely exceed what we have available. This is unlikely because the house is considered a neighborhood hazard and the city may not want to pay to tear it down.

The fire department opened almost every ceiling to make sure they put the fire out, and floors and walls are also destroyed from water.

In the past I always liked to think maybe we could just donate and help others, never ever did I dream I would be asking and praying my own friends and family for help. Every little bit helps, PLEASE help if you can.

All funds will be spent specifically on the home damage, Ray's accrued expenses due to this fire, taxes, storage, disposal, demolition or repair, clothes, new housing, and purchase of life basics.

Thank you for your time and gratitude. Much love to everyone. Please pray for Ray and his very special daughter, my wife Danielle as I am worried this is taking a toll on her health. I am so lucky to be married to such a special woman.