Fire victims grateful to be alive

BUTTE — It’s all gone; all their worldly possessions — $30,000 to $40,000 worth of stuff.

But what Anthony Pambrun and Melissa Hillmer do have is priceless.

“We’re both alive. The dog’s alive,” Pambrun said. “That’s all we care about.”

The couple and another family — Chris and Daina Wenner-Mirsch — were forced out of the duplex they shared after a May 9 fire destroyed the property at 16640 E. Sullivan Ave.

Before the fire, Pambrun said he and Hillmer were in the process of buying the duplex.

“Melissa and I found this place,” he said. “It was our little dream.”

Pambrun grew up in Eagle River, but moved to the Butte when it got to crowded there seven or eight years ago, he said. These days, he said he can’t imagine a better place to live than the Butte.

“The community out here — all the people in the Butte have been amazing,” Pambrun said.

So many neighbors driving by wave or stop to offer shelter, clothing or encouraging words like, “Our thoughts and prayers are with you,” he said.

Pambrun said he recognizes some of folks who have stopped by from the Butte community, but most are strangers who see the charred home along Sullivan Avenue and stop to offer aid.

“Thanks to everyone who stopped and asked what they could do,” he said. “We really appreciate it.”

Pambrun said he wants other people to take their story to heart and use it as their own catalyst to be prepared.

“Check the batteries in your smoke alarm, get photos of valuables for your insurance company, keep important papers in a fireproof box, keep records of the serial numbers of valuable items,” Pambrun said.

He said fire isn’t picky about the lives it upends. “This could have been you. It happens to everybody.”

People should also take precautions to backup the data — especially photos — on their computers, Pambrun said.

“If I could have anything back it would be those computers,” he said.

Even in this time of loss, Pambrun is quick to point out that their two families are not the fire’s only victims.

The homeowner had insurance, but now instead of finalizing the sale of the property, he’s sorting through the fire claim with his carrier, Pambrun said.

“Now he has to deal with this,” he said. “I feel the worst for him.”

Besides the duplex, he said two vehicles and a motorhome on the property also were destroyed or damaged in the fire.

Bill Morrow with Mat-Su Red Cross said he responded to the fire Thursday and has been able to provide some help to both families.

A donation account also has been set up for the Chris and Daina Wenner-Mirsch family at Wells Fargo.

Pambrun and Hillmer said the Red Cross has already helped them and asked that others wishing to help donate to the Red Cross.

“If people want to help, help the Red Cross,” Hillmer said. “The Red Cross helped us and they will help the next family, too.”

She said they have a large group of family and friends in the area whose support will carry them through the challenging weeks and months ahead.

“We can get by,” Pambrun said. “There are a lot less fortunate people out there.”

Contact managing editor Heather A. Resz at 352-2268 or heather.resz@frontiersman.com.