Community binds together to help family
SANDPOINT — A house fire might have displaced a local family last week, but community members aim to ensure their homelessness doesn’t last long.
Last Thursday, a house fire ignited in the back garage of a house on 1913 Main Street. The blaze ignited spilled gasoline and vehicles parked in the area and quickly spread from the garage into the house itself. A quick response from Sandpoint Fire and Sagle Fire allowed crews to suppress the fire in 15 to 25 minutes. As a result, the house is still standing, but all personal possessions contained inside were destroyed.
“At this point, we still can’t say for sure what the ignition source was,” Sandpoint Fire Chief Robert Tyler said. “I’ve ruled it as ‘unknown.’ ”
Pastor Ken Lawrence of Sandpoint River of Life church owned the home and rented it out to the Ridgwell family. Unfortunately, the Ridgwells didn’t have renters insurance and won’t receive any financial compensation for the possessions they lost in the fire.
After the fire, the Ridgwells received accommodations from neighbors for a few nights and spent several days at the K2 Inn courtesy of the Red Cross. Now back in the home of friends, the Ridgwells are now seeking a new home to rent. According to Lawrence, their spirits are high and their mentality is positive.
“They’ve really had an admirable attitude throughout this ordeal,” he said.
For their part, the Ridgwells are extremely grateful for the clothing and immediate necessities that community members have given them. Lawrence recalled one moment when the company representatives that boarded up the home after the fire donated a bag filled with recreational items like crayons and coloring books to the kids. They also provided the family with toothpaste, toothbrushes and similar necessities for the evening.
“These kids were grinning ear to ear that someone would think to give them something to play with,” Lawrence said. “It was a simple gesture, but it made all the difference.”
Now community members plan to follow up with additional assistance to help the family start over. The Ridgwells have the remainder of the month’s rent and their deposit available to help in their house search. However, they will still likely need another financial boost.
Friends have opened a bank account at Mountain West Bank called the Ridgwell Family Fire Fund. Residents can make donations to that account, and a local, unnamed group has agreed to match funds up to $2,500.
In addition, 2nd Wind Fitness, located at 1527 Baldy Park Drive, is offering several incentives for people who donate to the family. Zumba instructor Dawn Kukuk is heading up a class this Saturday at 9 a.m. for a minimum donation of $5.
The fitness center is also offering free boot camp classes to people who drop off non-perishable food, clothing or money.
The family can use girl’s clothing size 10 to 12 and shoes size 3 to 3.5, boy’s clothing size 12 to 14 and shoes size 6.5, men’s clothing size 2XL and shoes size 13 and women’s clothing size 8 to 10 and shoes in women’s size 7.5.
Information: 290-2081