Community can assist family recently burned out of Wasilla home

A Wasilla family is in need of help following the loss of their home to fire on Wednesday.

Tina Heisa and her daughter Tessa came home Wednesday afternoon to find that fire had destroyed their rental home and most of their belongings.

Heisa said she is disabled and unable to work at a regular job, and daughter Tessa is also partially disabled due to an accident. The family did not have renters' insurance to cover the loss of the contents of their home.

"Most of my daughter's clothes were completely destroyed," said Heisa Thursday, adding that some of her own clothes, although damaged by heat and smoke, may be salvageable.

Heisa said she owns a mobile home that the family could move into, but it is in need of major repairs to the roof and floor. Some windows are completely gone and must be replaced before the family can live in the dwelling. In addition, there may be plumbing and electrical repairs needed, and the home needs both skirting and leveling.

It is a 12- by 60-foot mobile home with two 10- by 12-foot additions located on the front side of the dwelling.

The mobile home is currently situated on property the family is renting, but they may not be able to leave it there. They are hoping that someone may have property in the Palmer, Wasilla or Anchorage area where the family could live, and that they might be able to get help with moving the home to that location.

Heisa said the family is without winter clothing, needing both winter jackets and footwear, among other things.

The family consists of Tina, Tessa and Jason. Women's clothing sizes for Tina are size 12 for clothing, medium for jackets and outerwear, and women's size 9 1/2 to 11 for shoes and boots. Sizes for Tessa are size 3 or 4 for clothing, small for jackets and outerwear, and women's size 8 for shoes and boots. Jason's sizes are waist 34, inseam 34, men's large for jackets and outerwear, and men's 14 for shoes and boots.

Individuals wishing to contribute money to help the Heisas get back on their feet can contact any Wells Fargo Bank. Funds should be deposited in the Heisa Family Fire Fund, account number 1141034312.

To donate in-kind items, provide information about potential homesites, or offer to help with labor and/or materials for repairs to the mobile home, interested people may contact Hope's Helping Hands at the Frontiersman. Call publisher Kari Sleight at 352-2250.

If you know of someone who could use a helping hand, please fax the information to Hope's Helping Hands, Frontiersman at 352-2277, send e-mail to kari.sleight@frontiersman.com or mail information to the Hope's Helping Hands, Frontiersman, 5751 E. Mayflower Ct., Wasilla, AK 99654. "Hope's Helping Hand" is a community outreach program sponsored by the Frontiersman. Please provide your name and telephone number (or address/e-mail address), the name of the person or people you are referring, contact information for them, and a list of items or services you believe these people need.