Hi, friends and family. We’re reaching out for help after a devastating car fire on our way home from a week trip. My car was great on the way there, no problems, just usual gas fill-ups for a 28-hour drive there and back. When coming back, the car had no signs of problems, no check engine lights, or anything visually concerning. We arrived in the mountains between Canyonville, Oregon, and Grants Pass. A hint of gas was something both me and my boyfriend smelled. We, of course, waited a second while still on I-5 driving to see if the smell would go away, thinking it was the truck in front of us. A minute went by, and it did. We weren’t concerned (assuming it was the car that was in front of us at the time), and I continued to drive. About 20 minutes later, the smell of gas came back, and with no other cars around us, I knew it had to have been my car. I pulled over off I-5 on the side, and before we could even open the doors to check the car, instantly black smoke and flames grew fast and big at the hood of the car. Fight or flight kicked in. I attempted to run from the car; my boyfriend attempted to do anything to stop the car from further burning. We attempted to scream and yell for a fire extinguisher from the semi that was across I-5 pulled over but had no luck getting their attention. I called 911, and within the fast minutes the Grants Pass Fire Department took to get to us in the mountains, the car was a ball of fire with all of our stuff in it. It was 11:30 pm, and a couple of cars passing checked on us. Thankfully, we were okay, just both shaken up, but there wasn’t anything that could have been done at that point. We walked away with the clothes on our backs and our cell phones but lost everything else in the fire. From 3 large luggages full of personal belongings, purses, electronics, cash, IDs, most of our shoes/clothes, and sentimental things that we’ll both learn to live without.
Thankfully, everyone is safe, but the car is a total loss. At the end of the day, we are both grateful to be alive and healthy, but it’s never easy seeing hard-earned and worked-for things burn in front of you without anything you can do.
That was currently our only transportation to work and to get around. We have a baby due in November (surprise if you didn’t know yet, I was waiting to announce it) and also moving in September. We’re asking for any help you can give to get us back on our feet. Your generosity will go directly towards paying off the car loan ($7,000) and replacing some of the essentials we lost, as well as help towards a new car. Anything you can contribute would mean the world to us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
