GRACE — Several fundraising efforts are underway for a local family who recently lost their home and two canine companions in a devastating fire.
Valerie and Bryan Smith were out with friends and family on the night of March 2 when they received a call from their neighbor informing them that their home was engulfed in flames.
“The neighbor asked, ‘Are you home?’ I told her no and she told us that the house was engulfed in flames,” Valerie Smith told the Idaho State Journal during a Friday phone interview. “I just said, ‘No it’s not, our dogs are in there.”
Grace Fire Chief Curtis Peck said the blaze at 370 South 9th West was reported around 10:30 p.m. when Assistant Chief Dave Kendall was driving by and spotted smoke coming from the Smith residence.
By the time firefighters arrived, the entire home was an inferno, Peck said.
Firefighters battled the blaze for about 3 1/2 hours but the home was declared a total loss in the end, he added. The cause of the fire was determined to be a pellet stove in the living room, Peck said.
No people were injured as a result of the blaze, but the Smiths’ two dogs perished in the fire, Peck said.
Valerie said the two dogs that died in the house fire were Munchkin, an 8-year-old Chiweenie — a cross between a Chihuahua and dachshund — and Chanse, a 4-year-old Husky and red heeler mix.
Peck said the American Red Cross has been contacted to provide some assistance to the Smith family during this trying time.
Valerie said her granddaughter paid for the couple to stay at the Black Canyon Motel in Grace for a week and the hotel has graciously allowed them to stay for another week for free.
“We’re going over to a friend’s house for meals because the hotel doesn’t have cooking facilities,” Valerie said. “We’re not exactly sure what we’re going to do moving forward. Our plan is to get it cleaned up and hopefully with some volunteers we can get another house up eventually.”
She continued, “That’s obviously going to be sometime down the road because the weather is not really cooperating with us. What a bad time of the year for this to happen.”
To make matters worse for the Smith family, the home was completely paid off and was no longer insured, Valerie said.
Several fundraising efforts have been launched to assist the Smith family during this difficult time.
Tonya Tibbitts, Valerie’s boss at Grace Market, has started a GoFundMe campaign to assist the Smith family. Accessible by visiting gofund.me/c1da6225 , a total of 24 people had contributed $1,920 toward its $20,000 goal as of Friday evening.
“Imagine coming home on a snowy and very cold winter night to find your entire world shattered,” the GoFundMe says. “While you were away, your house was engulfed in flames leaving nothing but ashes behind. Your hearts (sank) even more as you realized that not only had you lost your home and all our possessions, but your precious dogs — your loyal companions — were unable to escape the inferno.”
The GoFundMe continued, “The pain of losing everything you worked so hard for is indescribable, but the loss of your furry family members has left a void in your hearts that cannot be filled. Your dogs were more than just pets — they were your confidants, your source of joy, and your constant companions through life’s ups and downs. Valerie and Bryan are facing this unimaginable tragedy. They are now left with the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from scratch, with the weight of grief and loss heavy on their hearts.”
Additionally, folks can also donate directly to the Smith family by mentioning Bryan or Valerie Smith at any Advantage Plus credit union branch, or via Venmo by visiting venmo.com/u/Gina-Mouritsen .
“We are appreciative of any help that we can get,” Valerie said. “We are trying to keep up our faith and hope.”
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