Red Cross assists 8 families affected by Junction Fire

OAKHURST, Calif. (KFSN) -- Workers with the American Red Cross returned to Oakhurst to assist families impacted by the Junction Fire.

"Our biggest concern is to let the public know we're still here. We didn't just come in, open the shelter and then disappear. We're still here and we'll be here as long as the families still need us," said Katrina Poitras, Disaster Program Manager with the Red Cross.

The fire, which is now 100% contained, destroyed 47 structures in the area and blackened 612 acres.

Tuesday morning, the emergency relief organization brought a handful of agencies together at the Oakhurst Community Center to help families affected by the fire.

The event covered everything from food, clothing and shelter to assistance for their pets. It even included assistance for students heading back to school after the summer break.

"We lost all of our food because of the power outage," said Oakhurst Resident Becky Morris. "So this is wonderful. I never knew these places were here until now. It's good."

Pat and Mary Helen Mierkey were also surprised by the community's willingness to help.

Moments after the mandatory evacuation order alert went out last week, the couple said the fast-moving fire ripped through their Oakhurst home, reducing the two-story structure to a pile of ash just nine inches high.

"We had four children, four dogs, three adults, but we had two good sized vans and were able to get out, but we got out with really just the clothes on our back," said Mary Helen Mierkey.

With just five minutes to flee, the family of musicians lost everything, including treasured instruments like a piano once owned by Grammy award-winning singer & songwriter Carole King and old trombone played by Pat's grandfather back in 1911.

"I don't have that horn anymore. I had a double-bell euphonium that I was given when I was just 11 years old, and played it all the way through and played it in the Dixieland band, that's gone," said Pat Mierkey.

Now the Red Cross is helping the couple, along with seven other families, whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the flames.

"We have several agencies here," said Poitras.

Agencies like Yosemite Unified School District which is helping families with children replace lost school supplies, clothing and other items.

There's also the Tzu Chi Foundation, a non-governmental humanitarian organization based in Taiwan that's helping families with monetary needs, blankets, and food.

"So depending on the degree of damage to the homes, they have debit cards to give to those families to help with those recoveries as well," said Poitras.

Poitras said the Madera County Assessor's Office is also assisting those who lost their homes with tax information and the Central California Animal Disaster Team is donating pet supplies like food, kitty litter, and beds to make the nearly 35 displaced animals feel more at home.

"I got a leash for my dog that burned up so this is great," said Mierkey.

It's the type of support families like the Mierkey's said they're grateful for.

"This is wonderful for particularly people that may be don't have the support system we had built into our lives. I feel for these people who have lost a lot and may be they don't have family close or they don't have the close friends and ties that we have," she said.

Her husband agreed saying because of the overwhelming support of the community, he doesn't feel like a victim.

"This is not a downer for me," he said. "It's so exciting for me to see people tuned in to help."

If your family was affected by the fire, but you weren't able to make out to the Oakhurst Community Center, the Red Cross wants to hear from you.

Workers said they'll continue to help families as long as it takes for them to recover.

"We don't necessarily know who you are, but you know who we are so reach out to us, let us know, we're here to help," said Poitras.