What the fire couldn't destroy, however, was a community of friends and strangers that since the fire has poured out support to help this young family through a trying time, giving the Johnsons much for which to be thankful.

A bucket of ashes that had sat for several days on the front porch is the suspected culprit, according to Alysha Johnson. Strong winds that night stirred the coals, catching the front porch of the home on fire. Wearing only the clothes in which they were sleeping, the family managed to escape with their lives, immediately surrounded by neighbors rushing to their aid.

"Someone came with a coat. Someone else came with shoes. Someone had hold of our dog," said Alysha, who is due to have the couple's second child at the end of January.

Other responders pushed vehicles out of harm's way.

As the wind whipped at the flames, igniting trees around the home and driving the wind chill down, Alysha used a cell phone to call her friend, Jeanie Schollenberg, who lives two streets over, to tell her what was happening. Schollenberg, like others in the neighborhood, didn't hesitate in her response.

"I went around the corner and Lionel had (Quyanna) and was just standing there. I said, 'Get in my car, it's warm, there's a blanket, wrap up in it.' Then I found Alysha and said, 'You're going to my house and stay with me,'" said Schollenberg.

The following day, when neighbor Rick Swenson took Lionel Johnson to Redden Marine to shop for clothes so Lionel could continue working as a mechanic at Desperate Marine, the outpouring of help grew as word of the fire spread.

"A lot of people pitched in and got Lionel from underwear to working clothes and boots so if he wanted to go to work the next day, he could have," Swenson said. "There must have been a dozen different people come up to him and say, 'You can stay at our house,' 'I've got a couch,' 'Do you need a vehicle?' As Lionel was shopping for clothes, word trickled around the store. While I stood there, people came over and handed me handfuls of cash to put towards Lionel so he could keep working."

Brant "Boog" and Doris Torsen, who lived two doors down from the Johnsons, turned their business, Boog's Automotive, into a drop point for items to help the burned-out family and space for the Johnsons to sort through things, finding items they need.

Some of the donated items have been gently used, some are brand new, still in packaging. Among them was a gift bag of books and toys left anonymously for Quyanna, who turned 2 years old in the days following the fire.

The Christian Community Church, where the Johnsons attend, also went into action, placing cans around town in which people could donate financial support for the family and opening the Johnson Fire Fund at Wells Fargo Bank to also receive donations.

"We helped make sure they got the essentials to get by with," Pastor David Taylor said, adding that the reaction has been "awesome. It's good being in this kind of community where people will help out those that have had misfortune."

Now in an apartment set up as a bed and breakfast so a family of four can be comfortable for a weekend, the Johnsons' immediate need for dishes, cookware and furniture has been satisfied, allowing them to focus on rebuilding their home. Because Alysha served in the U.S. Army she was stationed in Germany, Iraq and North Carolina between October 2002-October 2005 the family's home was insured by USAA, an organization that offers banking, investments and insurance for veterans. Although the house did not survive the fire, the 24-foot-by-40-foot foundation did. It will be the starting point for rebuilding.

"(USAA is) processing it very quickly for them," said Sam Beachy of Beachy Construction, who will be building the Johnsons' new home with hopes of having it completed by early spring. "Alysha's pregnant and needs a place to go. That's one reason why we're trying to get it going quickly for them. It won't take that long to do it with everything already there water, sewer and a foundation."

Keeping track of everything, Alysha is jotting down names, phone numbers and a to-do list in a notebook she keeps close at hand. One growing list is people to thank. There's "Jason for being a good neighbor," "Roger for watching Tustle (the dog)," "Clara's dad for clothes." There are lists of businesses and individuals who have offered services, given food and provided clothing. There's an eye exam, contacts, unlocking the gas cap on Alysha's vehicle, coffee, gift certificates, use of a cell phone. There's "a lady at church, $40."

"This list doesn't begin to cover it," Alysha said. "There are people calling all the time."

On the Nov. 17 radio program Mid-Day Connection, a program broadcast by the Moody Bible Institute, listeners were asked to look back over the past year for what they were most thankful.

"I am grateful that on Monday, Nov. 9, when my house burned down nobody was hurt, not even the dog," Alysha told the program's worldwide audience.

When the show's hosts, Anita Lustrea and Melinda Schmidt, asked for more details, Alysha said, "The community here in Homer where we live has rallied around us and I just want to praise the Lord for the kindness of others. I'm so grateful that He got us out safely and not only got us out, but for the kindness of our community that is showering down on us daily."

Thanksgiving plans called for the Johnsons to have guests in their Early Spring Street home for the holiday meal. The fire altered those plans, with Alysha letting everyone know she and her husband and daughter had no home in which to have company.

However, the generosity of others has turned their tragedy around. With a roof albeit temporary over their heads and all their needs being met, the Thanksgiving plans are back on track.

Seeing Homer's response to this family's crisis is cause for thanksgiving for those close to the Johnsons.

"People tend to focus on the negative, but when something like this happens, people pour out of the woodwork," said Swenson. "It just reinforces that we do live in a great place."

For Schollenberg, it was a reminder that life is short.

"You just don't know," she said of the uncertainty.

One thing she does know, however. "This town is wonderful."

When Lionel and Alysha arrived in Homer from their hometown of Egegik in 2006, they were on their honeymoon. Everything they owned fit into the back of their car. Three years later, they had a home, furniture from garage sales and a baby.

On the morning of Nov. 10, all they had left was their young daughter, their vehicle and something else they'd acquired since arriving: people that care.

"We didn't pick Homer for the people at first, but it is wonderful being part of this community," said Alysha. "We had that figured out before the house burned down. Where can you go that's any better than this? That's become clear."

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibbenjackinsky@homernews.com.