Fundraisers underway in two home fires

Fundraisers are underway in connection with two Douglas County homes destroyed by fire May 5 and June 7.

A Topaz Ranch Estates resident and his two sons lost their home to a fire on May 5 that also resulted in the loss of their cat.

Brittani Enget organized the fundraiser for her brother Jeremy Ritter and her two nephews so they can replace the items they lost.

In the two months since the fire, they’ve raised $5,620 of their $10,000 goal.

“They lost all clothing, furniture, hunting gear, just everything,” she said in the post. “Jeremy does everything he can to help out in any way he can in the community. He coaches football (and even his nieces first season of softball.) He would give you the shirt off his back and his last dollar if he thought it would help you.”

Gardnerville Ranchos resident Robert Winter has opened a Go Fund Me account after most of his house was destroyed on June 7.

Winter, a contract FEMA inspector, saw the smoke plume as he was on his way home that day.

Initial suspicions that the fire might have been fireworks haven’t turned out, he said on Tuesday. Plans are to tear down the home except for the garage, which pretty much survived intact.

Winter hopes to raise the $50,000 to rebuild his home.

“It looks like I’m going to be $50,000 short to rebuild and that’s mostly because of inflation over the last couple years and upgrading to new building codes,” he said in his post. “A lifetime of memories up in smoke. Bits and pieces of my life forever gone. I never thought I could experience such heartache.”

To donate, visit gofundme.com and search for Brittani Enget or Robert Winter.