Homer Alaska - News

That outpouring of support inspired Alycia Johnson to help the Sligh family, a Homer family who lost their Svedlund Street home in a fire May 31. Johnson organized donation jars and a benefit to help the Slighs.

When fires June 8 and June 12 displaced two more families, the Slighs told Johnson to expand the benefit. At 7 p.m. today at the Christian Community Church on Bartlett Street, a dessert social and auction fundraiser is held to benefit the Homer and Anchor Point families who have lost homes within the past two weeks. Admission is by donation. Christopher Story will lead an auction of donated art, crafts and guy toys — the perfect gift for Father's Day.

"This community pulled together for us when our home burned down, and now we have this beautiful place," Johnson said. "Pay it forward."

Anchor Point Fire, Homer Volunteer Fire Department and Kachemak Emergency Services have responded to six major incidents since late May. Fire responded to are:

May 31: A fire destroyed the Sligh family home on Svedlund Street in Homer.

June 1: A neighbor on West Thomas Road in Homer saw smoke coming from a home. Firefighters found a burned pan on the stove and stopped the fire from spreading.

"They were very lucky," said Kachemak Emergency Services Chief Bob Cicciarella.

June 8: A fire about 6 a.m. on Spruce Road in the Hidden Hills neighborhood off the North Fork Road destroyed a two-story home rented to Mate Nye.

June 10: HVFD and KES firefighters went to a bathroom fire in a home at Mile 3 East End Road. Firefighters and emergency medical technicians evacuated a bedridden person. That patient and another occupant were taken to South Peninsula Hospital for evaluation. Firefighters kept the smoke from spreading beyond the bathroom. An improperly disposed cigarette caused the fire.

June 11: A fire in a shed at the Bear Essentials B & B on Tall Tree Road burned the shed to the ground. Anchor Point firefighters kept the fire from spreading to a nearby house. State Forestry wildland firefighters stopped a small grass fire.

June 12: A fire at about 9 p.m. totally destroyed the home of Diana and Dale Seekins on Mission Road in Homer. The couple and their three dogs escaped the fire without injury.

"It's so strange that so many should lose so much at once," Johnson said of the recent events.

The Mission Road fire started in an attached greenhouse, said HVFD Chief Bob Painter.

"All of a sudden, I just saw flames and smoke," said Diana Seekins. "I ran down and told Dale. He grabbed a garden hose. He tried to hose it down pretty good. That didn't work."

Seekins said she screamed "like a fish wife" and Josiah Fisher, a friend visiting neighbors, ran over and helped her get their dogs out of the fire.

Dale and Diana Seekins run Arctic Sun Lodging on Mission Road. With all cabins booked, they're living in their motorhome next to the remains of their 1961 home, built by homesteader George Dahlgren.

"Right now, I think we're doing pretty good. We feel blessed," Diana Seekins said. "Some people get burned out and have no place to go. We have several options ... I'm just pretending we're camping."

In her experience, Johnson said rebuilding a life after a fire takes time.

"They think they are doing great," she said. "We thought we were doing great. Three weeks later, we thought, 'How are we going to make it?'"

In the long run, Johnson said families will appreciate the extra financial support. Anyone wishing to help out with the benefit can show up tonight or call Johnson at 435-3996.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong.@homernews.com.