After the Watch Fire burned 13 homes, this Arizona community unites to restore hope

“We lost everything," Raymondo Henry said.

He stood with his wife, Natasha, in Burdette Hall in San Carlos considering what to do after their home and most possessions were burned by the Watch Fire.

“I can understand a forest fire with all of the trees and everything, but this is the desert, it’s just unbelievable,” he said.

The Watch Fire , which was fully contained after burning 2,162 acres, started on July 10 and destroyed at least 13 homes. The Henrys were among the 75 people who lost their homes to the blaze.

Raymondo said he and his wife saw where the fire had started and rushed home to gather important items. As Natasha was inside the home, Raymondo saw the fire crest the hill close to their home.

“I ran to the house and told her to just leave everything, we have to go,” Raymondo said. “She took her car, and I took my little truck, and we left. My wife lost her other car, and I lost my work truck.”

He said they lost many items that they lost including his tools, computer, laptops and phones.

“We lost all of our business papers, all of our receipts," Raymondo said. "I don’t know how we are going to get that back."

More: Wildfire map: Track where fires are burning in Arizona in 2024

Family considers next steps after Watch Fire

Before the fire, Raymondo started a small metal roofing business, and his wife helped him with the projects he was working on. As his business began to take off, Raymondo said he had planned to help Natasha get her bakery license. But that was before the fire.

“I helped him with his business, and we were going to start working on mine, but then all of this happened,” Natasha said. “I lost all of my cake stuff.”

The Henrys and others who lost their homes gathered at Burdette Hall, a gym in San Carlos, on Wednesday to collect supplies as many continued to bring bags and boxes of donations to help the families restart after the tragedy. Seeing the many donations come in and the community working together, helped to lift the couple's spirits, Raymondo said.

“The clothes that we lost were the same kind of clothes that we got back," he said.

Raymondo said he and his family have faced difficulties before and managed to rise above them. He is choosing to view this tragedy with the same mindset.

“We fell down before, but we got up," he said. "This time, we went down more than rock bottom, so we’re crawling back underneath that rock. We’re trying to make it back to ground level.”

Donations pour in to help those affected by Watch Fire

Several locations, including Apache Gold Casino and Resort, San Carlos Apache Tribe Emergency Response Commission, and the San Carlos Hospital, continued to accept donated items and monetary donations to help those who have been affected by the fire.

Many people were also volunteering at Burdette Hall to help take in clothes, food, water, furniture and monetary donations.

Volunteers and officials set up at San Carlos High School said they were amazed to see the outpouring of donations that were sent in.

Byron Medlock, who helps the Salvation Army, said they have a gym full of clothes, personal items, toys and food.

“I’ve seen kids come out of here with toys and a smile on their face," Medlock said. "It really just makes a difference.

'We have to come together'

Navajo President Buu Nygren visited Burdette Hall to speak with the victims of the fire. He went around the gymnasium, shaking hands and giving them hugs, making sure everyone was spoken to and heard.

“When we heard the news, it was just devastating to hear how over 70 people lost their homes,” Nygren said. “To hear the stories from people losing their pets, animals, and homes their grandparents built, it’s just heartbreaking.”

As a leader, Nygren thinks the best thing he can do is ensure people have access to immediate supplies and are well taken care of.

“As I make my rounds, it's tough hearing some of the stories, but we have to come together and be there for one another,” he said.

Reach the reporter at kweaver@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: After the Watch Fire burned 13 homes, this Arizona community unites to restore hope