Thursday, October 1, 2026
CHELAN — When the Chelan Hills Fire raced through homes north of Chelan over the Fourth of July weekend, it did more than destroy buildings. It interrupted dreams years in the making, erased places families believed would always be there and forced neighbors across North Central Washington to begin rebuilding almost overnight.
In the days since, the community has responded in force. Verified GoFundMe campaigns have raised thousands of dollars for families who lost homes, belongings and the places that anchored their daily lives. Behind each fundraiser is a different story, but together they paint a portrait of a community determined to move forward.
Mike had spent years preparing for the off-grid life he dreamed of building.
According to his father, Kevin, that dream was never about simply owning property. Fascinated by power production, water management and sustainability, Mike had carefully chosen a modest trailer within his budget and spent months gathering solar panels, hand tools and other equipment before moving onto the property just a couple of months before the fire.
"For him it was an oasis, a tranquil place to work with his hands and enjoy the abundance of nature around him," Kevin wrote.
Deer, bears and even rattlesnakes became part of the experience. At the end of the day, Mike often relaxed by playing the three-quarter-size Martin guitar his parents had given him as a teenager.
Kevin said that, of everything lost in the fire, the guitar has been the hardest for his son.
Despite the loss, Mike has not abandoned his dream.
"He rolled the dice and it wasn't in his favor this time," Kevin wrote. "A lot of lessons were learned, but many more to come."
Kevin said his son blames no one, remains grateful to live and work in North Central Washington and already plans to rebuild. The family's fundraiser, he added, has reminded them "how the community and family comes together to help when things get bad."
Help Mike Rebuild His Off Grid Dream After Fire Loss:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-mike-rebuild-his-off-grid-dream-after-fire-loss
Madison and Owen had been in their first home just five weeks before the fire changed everything.
The couple had purchased 19 acres where they hoped to start a farm, raise their young son and welcome another child on the way.
"For Owen and Madison, that place was the American dream," family friend Jake Walters wrote. "Their first home. Nineteen acres to start a farm, a safe place to raise their little boy with a baby on the way."
Walters said the community response has been immediate, with neighbors, friends and strangers offering clothing, donations and encouragement as the family begins rebuilding.
"They're just genuinely good people," Walters wrote. "Owen works as hard as anyone I know. He's a fantastic dad, and everything he does is for his family."
Help Madison & Owen Rebuild After Fire:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-madison-owen-rebuild-after-fire
For Isabell, watching her sister's family lose their home has been especially painful because it came just as a new chapter of life was beginning.
The family had recently married and was in the process of purchasing the property where the sisters grew up. Their goal was to restore the land and create a permanent home where their two children could grow up.
Instead, the fire forced another beginning.
Isabell said it marks the third time her sister has lost a home to fire, dating back to a blaze that destroyed the family's childhood home in 2008 and another fire several years later.
A family facing a disaster like the Chelan Hills Fire can be devastated, but the community has already shown up with clothing and essentials for those who lost everything. (GOFUNDME)
"What has stood out to me most is her determination," Isabell wrote. "Even after everything she's been through, she's focused on getting back on her feet and creating a better future for her children."
She said the outpouring of support from the community has been unlike anything she has experienced.
"Within a single day, people had provided clothing, essentials and so many of the things my sister's family needed after losing everything," she wrote.
Help My Sister's Family Rebuild After Fire:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-sisters-family-rebuild-after-fire-s99g9
Emily Horan hopes people see Zack and Kali as children with bright futures, not simply as victims of a wildfire.
Her nephew Zack, who is entering sixth grade, loves family game nights, camping, fishing and collecting Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards. Kali, entering fourth grade, fills her days with dance, cheerleading, sports and art.
"They are an unstoppable team," Horan wrote.
The siblings are being raised by their grandparents, whose home had become a place of stability after earlier hardships in their young lives. Losing that home, Horan said, has been devastating, especially after the family's three beloved cats were also lost in the fire.
Sixth-grader Zack and fourth-grader Kali are “an unstoppable team,” says their aunt Emily, and community support has already been overwhelming. (GOFUNDME)
"Houses and clothes can eventually be replaced, but those pets were a constant source of unconditional love and comfort," she wrote.
Still, Horan said the response from neighbors, local businesses and strangers throughout the region has reminded the family they are not facing recovery alone.
"Every donation, every share and every kind word is a message directly to Zack and Kali telling them that they are safe, that they are cared for, and that their community has their backs," she wrote.
Support for Zack and Kali After McNeil Canyon Fire:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-zack-and-kali-after-mcneil-canyon-fire
Families affected by the Chelan Hills Fire continue rebuilding one day at a time. For each of them, community support has meant more than replacing what was lost. It has been a reminder that, even after disaster, they do not have to start over alone.
Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media
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