Rasco's and Lundgrin's House in Alaska Burns

Many of us know Rob and Renee Rasco and that they have been summertime commercial fishermen in Ekuk, Alaska for over 40 years.

Rob built their cabin when he was in his early twenties and it has been their home each summer ever since. Their children Zach Rasco and Rachel Lundgrin (Rachel is our daughter-in-law) have grown up in this special place and now their spouses (Sarah DuBose Rasco and David Lundgrin) and children are embedded into this unique tradition as well.

They have continued to go up and run the business for Rob and Renee over the past five years since they haven’t been able to return due to Rob’s health condition.

They also hire four college students each year to serve as part of the fishing crew and babysitters.

On Tuesday morning, June 27, a fire started in their cabin. Four adults were sleeping inside at the time. By the grace of God, two of the children, Jacob Rasco (age 8) and Ethan Lundgrin (age 7), went into the cabin, saw the smoke and woke up the sleeping crew members. Miraculously everyone made it out safely, but within minutes the entire house was engulfed in flames. All they could do was watch it burn to the ground. We are praising God that no one was hurt or worse! There is no doubt that He was watching over them and we are so very thankful!

This is the main cabin that burned where there was a kitchen, eating area, gathering place, and two small bedrooms. In the background are two small houses for David's and Zach's families built by David and Zach.

Jake and Sara Rasco are in the foreground and Rachel and her uncle, Jeff Rasco, comforting her, I'm sure. They spent many happy summers here.

Rachel - David ran around without a shirt or shoes, and it was pretty cold (50ish degrees). A fireman was trying to put out the fire but was protecting the two structures nearby because they were starting to smoke and windows were cracking.

Jason and Logan are seen here without shirts not because they were hot, but because they didn't have time to grab any clothes as they ran out of the house.

Jason DuBose, Annaliese Haugen, Anya Haugen, Logan Morrison

Jacob Rasco, Ethan Lundgrin - front row

These are the young adults who form the crew, and the two little guys who woke them up when the fire started.

They are standing in front of the rubble of the house that burned down.

The loss of the main house where the kitchen, all food storage, living room, and two bedrooms for the college students (two crew and two babysitters) is devastating and overwhelming. The crew members and babysitters made it out with only what they were wearing as they slept (They had just gone to bed after fishing in the early dawn hours). Everything else they had is gone. Friends and relatives in the small community rallied around them to help provide food and temporary shelter. The Rasco’s are mourning the loss of the one consistent home they have had and returned to for over 40 years, and also trying to wrap their minds around the great financial loss as this threatens their livelihood. Due to the remote location of their fishing village, home insurance is not available, which makes this a total loss. They hope to rebuild, but it is very costly to ship supplies to their fishing village in this area of Alaska.

We’ve all been in desperate situations and know what it’s like to experience love and support from those around us in those times of great need. There are no words to describe that feeling of gratitude. I know the Rascos are in that place right now. If you feel you can contribute financially, I know they would be forever grateful. This money would also go to help replace some of the belongings that their crew lost in the fire. If you can pray for God to guide them and give them peace in all of this, that would be a tremendous blessing as well. Thank you, friends!