Family That Lost Home In Fire Gets Trust Fund

A trust fund has been opened for a Bonner County family whose home and all its contents burned to the ground Sunday.

Gerald Durbin, his wife and three children lost the cabin they built 18 months ago and two family pets - a cat and a gerbil - when a faulty generator caught fire. The Cram Road house in the southern end of the county was beyond saving by the time firefighters arrived.

Durbin, a self-employed mobile home repairman, lost his truck and tools in the fire and $3,200 in savings, he said Tuesday. The American Red Cross paid for a motel room for the Durbins for two days. The family will stay with friends until they can rebuild, he said.

“I could rebuild my house in 30 days if I could lay my hands on materials,” Durbin said. He had no insurance.

A family friend started the trust fund at Bank of America and is collecting twin mattresses, adult clothes and cinder blocks for the Durbins.

Durbin said he wants to rebuild with the fire-proof cinder blocks. He also needs steel roofing, windows, doors and cement for floors.

Durbin and his wife escaped the fire with one set of clothing each. Their three children, ages 8-11, need winter jackets and boots, snowsuits and play shoes.

Any Bank of America branch will take donations to the Durbin account - 9783-0012-33. To donate items, please call Cyndi Foti at 762-0223.

, DataTimes