Support Germantown Family After House Fire and Family Loss.

On July 19, 2024, a fire started in my childhood home, where my family all resides. At the time of the fire, my grandparents, older sister, niece, and nephew were home. As the fire started, my grandmother, older sister, niece, and nephew were able to get out safely, while my grandfather was caught in the room where the fire happened.

Fire rescue arrived almost instantly and was able to get him out, and they flew him to MedSTAR in DC where he stayed in the trauma unit. While hooked up to a breathing machine and under medication, we were able to all meet up in DC to say our goodbyes before he was taken off support and shortly passed away. My grandfather was a veteran, a hardworking man, and a father figure to my siblings and I.

Dealing with the death of a loved one is hard enough, but not having a home to come back to and process it all is even harder. The fire displaced my entire family of 6, including a 5-year-old and 3-year-old who called that house their second home with daily stays, as well as three pets.

While we are working with house insurance, these processes can take a very long time, and the house is estimated to be unlivable for quite a few months. While structural damages are expensive on their own and are in the process of being covered, that does not account for all of the emergency living expenses, personal necessities, food, and anything else needed during this unhoused period. On top of this, funeral costs and arrangements are also a task that needs to be tackled.

Growing up, this house was always a welcoming and open-door place for me and my two sisters' friends to hang out, live when they had nowhere else to go, or just in general a place for our family to come together. Built in 1979, this house has held four generations and nothing but love and memories.

As this house had absolutely nothing but love and care to give to others, all I ask is that the same community be able to give the same love back. While nothing can ever replace the people and memories lost due to this fire, any help with making this transition over the next few months more comfortable and possible for my family would mean the world.

MoCo Show

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