Neighbors help out Boulder Creek fire after their home was lost in a fire
BOULDER CREEK, Calif. (KION) - A Boulder Creek couple is facing heartbreak after a fire ripped through their home on Saturday, destroying everything they owned and claiming the lives of several beloved rescue animals.
The blaze broke out around 8 p.m. Saturday, quickly engulfing the home from all sides. Firefighters battled the flames until early Sunday morning, finally knocking it down by 3 a.m. But by then, Mimi and her fiancé Raff’s dream home was reduced to ash.
Kathie Gerrity, a close friend and colleague of the couple, was with Mimi the night of the fire. Gerrity, who owns the veterinary clinic where Mimi works, recalls the horrifying moment.
"Mimi was not at home at the time," Gerrity said. "She was pet sitting for one of our other clients. And so we reached out to her, and she was just hysterical because she just figured out what was going on."
It was Mimi and Raff’s first home together, a fixer-upper they had poured their hearts into.
"They knew it was a project. It was a remodel, and they were working diligently and doing all of that," Gerrity said. "So it was kind of their dream home."
Raff was home at the time the fire began. According to fire officials, he noticed flames on the deck and managed to escape with minor injuries. He attempted to re-enter the burning structure to save their pets, but it was too late.
"There was a mixture of dogs, cats, birds, chickens, and geese," Gerrity shared. "Very fortunately, Raff had the forethought of knocking down the fence that contained the goats."
The couple is now staying with family in South San Francisco. At this time, they are unsure whether they’ll return to Boulder Creek.
"They literally walked away with the shirts on their backs," Gerrity said.
Despite the loss, the small mountain community is already rallying to help.
"We lived through the CZU Fire three years ago," said Viola F., a Boulder Creek neighbor. "We know how devastating it is. So we’re just doing what we can."
"We’re kind of a small community in the mountains," added her husband, Peter. "So we kind of have to take care of each other."
For those who wish to help Mimi and Raff, a GoFundMe has been set up to support their recovery. Donations can also be dropped off at the Boulder Creek Veterinary Clinic, where Mimi works.
