Kent Cooper House Reconstruction(No insurance)

My father Kent Cooper lost his home and everything in it to the Oak Fire on July 22, 2022. Thankfully, he managed to safely evacuate in his vehicle. The property was not insured. Fire insurance in the Sierra is hard to find and impossible to afford. 

Beginning in 1979, when he bought the property, he drove to Mariposa from his job in Los Angeles on the weekends to build his home. He truly loved the mountains. He retired from Consolidated Film Industries in 1998 and moved full time to the mountain.

He diligently kept Buckingham Ridge clear of fuel which helped prevent fires from sweeping into Carter Valley. Additionally, his property was used as a command post, enabling firefighters to keep the fire from cresting Buckingham Ridge.

He operated an informal bear rescue and a juvenile bear lived on his property in recent years when its mother had been relocated. In Los Angeles he lived at the College of Oriental Studies. There he met a Vietnamese priest who had survived the killing fields of Cambodia. He later provided this monk refuge on Buckingham Mountain for 10 years.

Dad has always loved music, played the drums, and appreciated all kinds of music. He worked in production at Elektra Records, a division of Warner Brothers, with artists including The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchel, and Metallica.

My dad suffers from the complications of adult onset diabetes. Your contribution will help provide him with materials and labor. This will give him a chance of making a new start. Thanks for any help you are able to extend to my father.