Fire destroys Pilot Butte home, fundraising starts for family

An early morning fire destroyed a home in Pilot Butte on Sunday.

According to the fire department’s Facebook page, crews were called to the home at 3:37 a.m. and finished up around 7:30 a.m.

No injuries were reported.

Amanda O’Donnell is a friend of the owners, whom she said were on their way back from a ringette tournament in Winnipeg.

She said two of their older children were home, but were able to get out safely.

Fundraising is already underway for the family. A GoFundMe page has been set up and has raised more than $2,000 as of early Sunday afternoon.

O’Donnell said there will also be an event at Broncos Pub and Grill in Pilot Butte on Feb. 3.

It won’t be the first time the town has rallied around a family like this.

The community raised money for longtime residents who lost their house to a fire in 2017. That GoFundMe campaign raised more than $8,000.

“The community’s always supportive — it doesn’t matter what happened. Everybody is always willing to step up,” O’Donnell said. “It’s just a great place to be when you have a crisis and need some help.”