GoFundMe efforts to help Whitney Fire victims

WILBUR – A wildfire that started Labor Day weekend in Lincoln County still has residents working to recover from the blaze long after the fires have gone out.

The Whitney fire burnt over 123,000 acres in Lincoln County, burning homes, outbuildings and range land.

Two residents who lost their homes, (who), have had friends and neighbors establish Go Fund Me pages online as fundraisers.

Lee Baynes, who lived north of Odessa, lost his home in the Whitney fire. Baynes, who grew up in the Sprague area, was a long time employee of Gary and Bob Schmierer, farming and ranching north of Odessa until he became disabled almost four years ago.

Lee’s home that he rented from the Schmierer burned to the ground in the fire leaving Lee homeless and with no renters insurance. The only possessions that Mr. Baynes was able to take with him was the shirt on his back and the vehicle he was driving. The Whitney Fire kept shifting directions and left no time for Lee to grab any personal belongings.

Organizer Kari McKay said she decided to set up a Go Fund Me page for Lee after hearing about his loss.

“Lee is a very proud man who isn’t used to asking others for help, which is why I am writing this. Lee is working on borrowing a travel trailer to live in for now and wanting to rent a space for it at the RV park in Odessa until he can come up with another plan,” she wrote on the fundraiser page. ”He loves the Odessa area, he does business in that community, his friends are in that area, and he would like to stay and continue to be a member of the Odessa community if at all possible.”

The fundraising effort can be found on the Go Fund Me website under the name “Lee Baynes.”

Another Lincoln County resident who also has a Go Fund Me page established is for Terry Hoffman who lost his home in the Hawk Creek area.

Hoffman woke to the Whitney Fire engulfing his home. Several of his dogs would not leave the house and were lost in the fire. Hoffman was able to drive away from the blaze and one dog, an 11-year old named Mr. Big did survive. However, the home was considered a total loss

Gina Habbestad, who organized the Go Fund Me page for Hoffman, said she knew Hoffman through the Lincoln County Pet Network.

“He has always supported the Pet Network and always willing to help. He is a true animal lover which speaks volumes in my world. Terry is also a Gulf War Veteran who moved to Washington in 2005 making Hawk creek his home,” Habbestad related. “He lived in a small cabin on the property with his dogs until 2018 when he upgraded to a double wide mobile home and solar power. Sadly there wasn’t insurance to cover the loss.”

The effort to help Hoffman can be found on Go Fund Me under “Terry Hoffman Fire Relief Fund.”