Family gets helping hand after home fire

An overwhelming outpouring of support has flowed from Flathead Valley residents to the victims of a Nov. 2 fire.

The Disney family — Tyrel, 28, Franziska, 27, Tyler, 3, and Emmit, 8 months — were displaced from their home when an early morning fire left nearly all of their belongings burned, smoke-damaged or covered in toxic chemicals.

Left with basically nothing, the family was concerned about what their future would entail, living off the small monthly income from U.S. Army veteran Tyrel’s Veterans Affairs checks.

But the Disneys would not have to wait long for providence, as support came in the hours following the fire and only built as the days continued.

Among the first to lend aid was John Kramer, owner of Mountain Mini Storage and Tyrel’s boss. The Disneys had been living in a residence at the storage business in exchange for managing the business for Kramer.

“John Kramer has absolutely been a godsend to us,” Tyrel said. “He bought the boys a couple hundred dollars’ worth of toys, he bought us a couch, he bought both of the beds for the boys, he bought us a bed.”

Kramer initially put the family up in a suite at a local hotel and within a few days was able to move the family into an apartment that recently had been completely refurbished.

Local companies pitched in for the Disneys as well.

For example, Wright’s Furniture provided a new recliner, Gil’s Furniture sold Kramer the beds and sofa at half price and delivered them at no charge, and Alpine Laundry and Naturally Clean washed and dry-cleaned whatever clothing could be saved.

“Alpine Laundry had to put clothes through the wash five times to get the smoke smell out,” Kramer said.

Kramer and local businesses were not the only ones who have come to the aid of the Disneys.

Tyrel also thanked a pair of women, Dawn and Deborah, for helping the family retrieve from the home all that hadn’t been destroyed by the fire. The women took the Disneys’ clothes to the laundry businesses. They also were able to save a set of antique dishware from Germany belonging to Franziska.

In addition, Tyrel thanked local churches and firefighters and said he has received at least 50 calls from others offering help. The Inter Lake also received 13 calls and five emails from people wanting to know how to help. Those calls included representatives from the Whitefish and Kalispell Lions clubs and a woman from Eureka whose church provides quilts to victims of house fires.

“A lot of people have dropped by bags of clothing, kitchenware, baby toys and clothing,” Tyrel said. “People have just been absolutely wonderful.”

The help has marked a complete turnaround from the moments following the fire when the Disneys did not know what their future would hold.

“I thought we were done,” Tyrel said. “I thought that, you know, we were finished. I didn’t know what we were going to do or anything.”

Now the Disneys’ dread has been replaced by something entirely different and, considering the upcoming holiday, rather timely — thankfulness.

“I would just like to thank, completely thank, everyone,” Tyrel said. “There is no way to actually show everybody or tell everybody how much we appreciate everything everyone has done for us.”

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.