Family seeks aid after fire

KOOTENAI — A little community support will go a long way for one Bonner County man and his 7-year-old son after a fire robbed them of their possessions and home.

Accord-ing to his mother Christi Fraker, Kyle Fredricks returned home from the gym on New Year’s Eve to find the roof of his house on fire. The conflagration was so severe, he couldn’t even enter the house.

“When he tried opening the door, the heat was so severe that it just knocked him back,” Fraker said.

The fire destroyed the home along with Fredricks’ and his son, Levi’s, possessions. Even worse, Fredricks worked as a mechanic, and he had just brought his tools in the house to defrost. With those tools gone, he can no longer do his job.

“Not only did he lose his home in that fire, but he also lost his way of life,” Fraker said.

Fraker said that to their best knowledge, the fire originated in the home’s wood stove. Some burning material probably traveled up through the stove pipe into the attic, where it managed to come into contact with some insulation. After feeding on the insulation and materials in the attic, the fire consumed the roof and spread to the rest of the house.

For the present, Levi is living with his mother, who shares joint custody of the child with Fredricks. Meanwhile, Fredricks is essentially living out of his truck. A local mixed martial arts enthusiast and athlete, he was hoping to collect some fight winnings and purchase new tools.

“He was counting on the last competition to bring in some money, but that didn’t go as well as we hoped,” Fraker said.

Without an alternative, Fraker is turning to the community for help. She said that Fredricks has often shown generosity to individuals around the community, often performing repair work for free when people couldn’t afford payments. She hopes that Bonner County residents will return the favor now that he’s fallen on hard times. Money for new tool sets are especially important, but basic household items are also much appreciated.

Philanthropists can send money or items to PO Box 138, Kootenai, ID, 83840. Fraker can also answer any questions by phone at 946-7245.

“It’s kind of hard to turn to the community and ask for help,” she said. “But they basically have nothing. We’re just trying to help them start over.”