By Elise Gray
Special to the Alpine Mountaineer
In a devastating incident on Sept. 23, Daniel Thiele, a respected member of the Cedar Glen community, arrived home to find his house in flames. Upon arrival, engine crews issued a life hazard alert after finding live power lines down in the front yard, hidden beneath thick brush and vegetation. Firefighters worked swiftly and managed to bring the fire under control in about 45 minutes.
Thanks to the family’s quick actions and the fast response of local firefighters, Daniel’s wife, Lisa, and their dogs escaped without injury.
The fire has left the family with significant losses, but they are grateful for the safety of their loved ones and the overwhelming support they’ve received.
Close friend and colleague Mark Alexander expressed his sorrow: “My heart is broken for my friend’s family. To work so hard and lose almost everything – priceless things. Thankfully, everyone is OK, but it’s still devastating.”
The community has stepped up in support of the Thiele family. A GoFundMe campaign organized by family friend Kelly Vento has raised over $8,000 of its $10,000 goal, providing essential funds as the family awaits assistance from their insurance company. The donations are being used to cover immediate needs while the family searches for a temporary rental home that can accommodate their large dog.
“The Thieles are so grateful for the outpouring of support from their community and friends,” Vento wrote on the GoFundMe page. “As of now, a good family friend has given the family a temporary resting spot until a more adequate rental home can be found. We are looking for a three- to four-bedroom home that will accept a large dog.”
A message from the Thiele family
As they work to rebuild, Lisa Thiele expressed her gratitude for the community’s support in a Facebook post on Saturday, Sept. 28: “Our lives were turned upside down when our house burned down on Monday. We are still in shock, but we want to thank our incredible community for all the love and support. We are truly grateful and humbled.
“So many people have reached out to offer help – clothing donations, a temporary place to stay and our dear neighbor Kelly Vento setting up a GoFundMe for us. We know the road ahead is long, but we have never felt so loved and supported as we do now. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”
For those interested in contributing, donations can be made through the GoFundMe to help the Thiele family rebuild. To see how you can assist, see the following resources:
- Donate to the GoFundMe account at www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-thieles-rebuild-after-the-fire.
- Drop off donations at Operation Provider in Rimforest, which is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Cards, letters of encouragement, and donations are also welcome; they can be mailed to the following address: P.O. Box 306, Cedar Glen, CA 92321.
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