Relief effort under way in house fires

A Minden restaurant is hosting a fundraiser for two families who lost their homes in fires Sunday and Monday.

The Schulze family, who lost their home in the Gard¬nerville Ranchos on Sunday after their 8-year-old daugh¬ter Makayla's birthday party, is living in a hotel and is receiving help through the American Red Cross.

Sandra Schulze said the family lost their clothes in the house. Her son Gahvin has asthma, so he can't wear the clothes that were in the fire.

The Gomez family lost their Bodie Flats home on Monday night.

Owner David Gomez's sister, Rosa, said the children are living with her.

"Their house is about 20 feet from ours," she said. "It was pretty scary with the winds and everything. It could have easily got out of hand."

Dee Ann Evans, whose children attend Scarselli with the Gomez girls, said Barone & Reed Food Co. is hosting a benefit for both families start¬ing 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

According to Evans, $2 from each meal purchased until closing will go to help the families.

"We're also doing a raffle and there will be envelopes on each table for donations to help out the families," she said.

The donations are being coordinated through Scarselli Elementary School.

Evans said Tumbleweeds Gymnastics has donated 30 days membership and a birth¬day party to the raffle. World Gym has donated a member¬ship for a month and a free tanning session.

"Losing your home and all the special mementos that you can't replace, that's trag¬ic," Evans said.

Anyone interested in donating raffle items should contact Scarselli counselor Wiebke Willis at 265-2222, ext. 16.

The fire in the Schulze home started in the northwest corner of the patio in the veg¬etation, according to East Fork Fire Investigator Terry Taylor.

Taylor said further exami¬nation of the Bodie Flats home revealed that most of the damage occurred near an outlet in the bedroom.

"I initially thought the fire started outside and burned in," he said. "But now it looks like it started inside and burned out."

He believes the fire started between the master bedroom and the laundry room.