3 Families Lose Everything In The Highland Fire: How To Help

AGUANGA, CA — A fast-moving wildfire left 4,000 people scrambling to get out of its way. Many were forced to leave everything behind, and most would return to find their homes and possessions intact. Not so for three families who lost everything in the Highland Fire this week.

Family and friends have helped set up three separate GoFundMe accounts for some of those who suffered the sudden loss of their homes and property.

Family's Home Destroyed...

Angelina Quinonez began a fundraiser to help her husband's family, who lost everything in the Highland Fire.

"My two brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces, and nephew lost their home in the Highland Fire in Aguanga, CA.

"You can imagine how devastated they all are," she wrote. "They had to evacuate quickly and could not grab anything except get in their cars and leave. I'm asking for help to cover the cost of hotels, food, clothes, and basic necessities, and, hopefully, soon be able to start cleaning the property and start over. Anything helps, God bless!" Thus far, just over $500 has been raised to aid the family.

Roughly 4,000 residents were under evacuation orders or warnings. A care and reception center was established for evacuees at Great Oak High School in Temecula. Residents with large and small pets were invited to drop them off at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus for safekeeping.

Mike Doehr lost everything in the wildfire.

Patty Doehr, sister to Mike Doehr— an Aguanga resident and military veteran—sent a plea for help.

"My brother had to evacuate from his Aguanga home yesterday with only what he could load into his SUV," she wrote. "He lost the home, furnishings, antique firearm collection in gun safes, two large storage barns full of tools, an F250 pickup, a 69 Firebird."

Her brother is leaving Aguanga behind to stay with her and her husband in Arizona. There, he will remain as he deals with the total loss of all of his personal documents, she said.

"Mike retired from the US Air Force after 22 years of service," she wrote. "Please give what you can to help him start over. Insurance most likely won't come close to covering everything he has lost." Thus far, over $2,250 has been raised by the GoFundMe.

Single dad of 2 girls lost home to wildfire…

Another GoFundMe was set up by the family of Cody Boney, an Aguanga resident and single father of two young daughters who lost everything in the blaze.

Trever Boney, uncle to the children, wrote a plea on their behalf.

"Cody is a single dad of 2 little girls, ages 4 and 6. He is also a caretaker for a family friend with disabilities. He's the sole provider for their family and does the best he can to make these girls' lives as stable and happy as he possibly can."

"Monday, he received a call from the girls' school saying they were evacuating due to the Highland Fire. After getting them from school, they could not return home," he wrote. "Later that afternoon, they were told their home was most likely gone. He's staying in a local casino hotel with his two girls and the disabled senior until he can find better accommodations."

According to Trever Boney, his brother is a man who rarely asks for help and now needs it more than ever. "These poor girls have lost all their clothes and toys," he said. "Anything can and will help. "Thus far, just over $1,550 has been raised on their behalf.

Read more:

Highland Fire Burns 2,500 Acres, 15% Contained, Air Quality Alerts

Inferno In Photos: SoCal Windstorm Contributes To Swift-Burning Fire

Livestock Evacuated From Highland Fire Find Shelter In San Jacinto