Support Bjoarne’s (Nani) Family After Devastating Fire
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Update (June 1, 2025): Still Displaced, Still Fighting for Stability
Dear friends, family, and kind supporters,
I’m sharing a difficult update about our situation following the devastating fire that occurred on May 12, 2025. The fire started next door to our home in the early hours of the morning, just after 5:10 AM. The flames quickly spread, damaging major parts of our home — including the roof, ceiling, walls, bathroom, and laundry room. Smoke filled every room, and while we are so grateful to be alive, the aftermath has been heartbreaking.
We are still displaced and have now been told it will be at least a year or two before we’ll be able to return—if returning is even possible. In the meantime, we’ve been staying in a motel to keep a roof over our heads, but the cost has completely drained our finances.
On top of that, I’ve had to miss a significant amount of work due to everything that comes with surviving a fire — navigating emergency services, trying to find temporary housing, and advocating for my family. The financial toll has been enormous. I’m now being forced to move out the rest of our belongings — knowing that many of them are no longer salvageable due to severe smoke and water damage. Most of our clothes, beds, and even the girls’ favorite stuffed animals have been lost.
My daughter and I were also hospitalized for smoke inhalation. With both of us living with asthma, it’s not safe for us to be in what’s left of the unit — even for short periods. This has been the most destabilizing and painful experience of our lives, and we’re still in survival mode every single day.
We are asking for your help again — anything you can give or share makes a difference.
Funds will go toward:
We know everyone is carrying something — so even a share, a kind word, or a connection to permanent housing means the world. Thank you again to everyone who has supported us through this. Your love and generosity are what’s helping us hold on and keep going.
With love and deep gratitude, Bjoarne and Family
Dear friends, family, and kind supporters,
I’m sharing a difficult update about our situation following the devastating fire that occurred on May 12, 2025. The fire started next door to our home in the early hours of the morning, just after 5:10 AM. The flames quickly spread, damaging major parts of our home — including the roof, ceiling, walls, bathroom, and laundry room. Smoke filled every room, and while we are so grateful to be alive, the aftermath has been heartbreaking.
We are still displaced and have now been told it will be at least a year or two before we’ll be able to return—if returning is even possible. In the meantime, we’ve been staying in a motel to keep a roof over our heads, but the cost has completely drained our finances.
On top of that, I’ve had to miss a significant amount of work due to everything that comes with surviving a fire — navigating emergency services, trying to find temporary housing, and advocating for my family. The financial toll has been enormous. I’m now being forced to move out the rest of our belongings — knowing that many of them are no longer salvageable due to severe smoke and water damage. Most of our clothes, beds, and even the girls’ favorite stuffed animals have been lost.
My daughter and I were also hospitalized for smoke inhalation. With both of us living with asthma, it’s not safe for us to be in what’s left of the unit — even for short periods. This has been the most destabilizing and painful experience of our lives, and we’re still in survival mode every single day.
We are asking for your help again — anything you can give or share makes a difference.
Funds will go toward:
- Temporary housing (motel costs, deposits for rental housing)
- Replacing essential household items •
- Medical needs and missed income
- Food, clothing, and care for our children during this time
We know everyone is carrying something — so even a share, a kind word, or a connection to permanent housing means the world. Thank you again to everyone who has supported us through this. Your love and generosity are what’s helping us hold on and keep going.
With love and deep gratitude, Bjoarne and Family
Organizer
Bjoarne Cuaresma
Organizer
Thousand Oaks, CA