Dunsmore Family Home Fire

Hi, my name is Carly and I'm starting this fundraiser to help my sister NaLani, her husband Rick, and their 3 children - NaLea, Chase, and Swayzee after losing everything due to a house fire.

(Taken from True Dakotan Newspaper:)

January 31, 2024 a fire razed the rural Hand County home of Rick and NaLani Dunsmore and their three children, causing them to not only lose their house and all of their belongings but also 3 pet cats Missy, Pepper, and Carrot.

“We were down at our other place about to work a group of calves and were having a problem with the hydraulic chute,” NaLani Dunsmore recalled. “We decided to go home and make something to eat. As we pulled into the yard, we saw smoke coming out of the soffits of our house and I said to Rick, ‘I think our house is on fire.’”

Upon seeing the smoke, the couple ran to the entry door and tapped on the handle to see if it was hot. With a sense of desperation to save their pets inside, the Dunsmores were able to get the door open — only to find their cats had already succumbed to the smoke.

The homeowners called 911 and Wessington Fire Department received the dispatch page at 3:35 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31. The 15-man, four-truck crew arrived on scene to find the house fully engulfed in flames.

“We called for mutual aid from Wolsey and Miller Fire Departments right away,” said Jimmy Hanks, Wessington Fire Chief, who added that that Hand County Sheriff’s Office and Wessington Ambulance were also on scene and that the cause of the fire is still under investigation. “Mid Dakota disconnected water to the house and Dakota Energy was on scene to cut the power.”

Two of the family’s children are students in Wessington Springs School District and the Dunsmores said that the community at large has been generous in asking how they can help.

“We had our work clothes on and that’s all we have,” NaLani Dunsmore said. “We don’t have anything, even basic supplies like a toothbrush.”

The family is currently displaced and staying with friends until more details are sorted through. An account has been set up at Farmers and Merchants State Bank in White Lake, SD under the name “Dunsmore Benefit” to help the family get back on their feet after losing their home and all of their belongings.

I'm starting this page due to several people reaching out about a GoFund Me account. Any amount is greatly appreciated.