Help Debbie start over after a devastating fire

Before dawn on Wednesday, July 19, an arsonist poured gasoline along the side of the North Berkeley apartment building of our dear friend, Debbie Barack, and lit it on fire. Debbie was able to get outside safely, call 911, and with the help of her neighbors kept the flames under control until the fire and police departments arrived. Luckily, the damage to the building was fairly limited—but the arsonist wasn’t caught. A week later, on July 25, Debbie was startled awake in the middle of the night to the smell of smoke and a second, much larger fire. She rushed out, woke the neighbors, and tried again to fight the blaze, but it quickly raged out of control. Within minutes a flash fire had consumed her apartment and everything inside. She was left standing barefoot in the street with nothing but her pajamas, lucky to be alive.

 

The Berkeley police are investigating, but at present there are no known suspects or motives, and Debbie is now trying to recover after this senseless double attack. It’s hard to imagine going to bed one night and when the sun rises the next morning not owning even a toothbrush or a pair of shoes; it’s hard to imagine being violently attacked and nearly killed by someone who’s identity you don’t even know. Any support, no matter the amount, would help Debbie in this overwhelming and traumatic task of suddenly having to rebuild a home from scratch.