{"id":2441688,"date":"2019-03-13T15:04:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-13T21:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/basalt-family-receives-outpouring-of-support-after-losing-everything-in-house-fire\/"},"modified":"2019-03-13T15:04:00","modified_gmt":"2019-03-13T21:04:00","slug":"basalt-family-receives-outpouring-of-support-after-losing-everything-in-house-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/basalt-family-receives-outpouring-of-support-after-losing-everything-in-house-fire\/","title":{"rendered":"Basalt family receives outpouring of support after losing everything in house fire"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery\" readability=\"6.7021276595745\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-301577-954\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/Firevictims-atd-031419-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/Firevictims-atd-031419-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times | Martin and Estela Garcia at a friend's house in Basalt on Tuesday. The couple and their two kids lost their home and all possessions in a fire Saturday.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/Firevictims-atd-031419-1.jpg\" alt=\"Martin and Estela Garcia at a friend's house in Basalt on Tuesday. The couple and their two kids lost their home and all possessions in a fire Saturday.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Martin and Estela Garcia at a friend&#8217;s house in Basalt on Tuesday. The couple and their two kids lost their home and all possessions in a fire Saturday.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/Firevictims-atd-031419-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/Firevictims-atd-031419-1-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times | Estela Garcia Lopez shows a picture she has of her two children on her cell phone. She said she lost most of her pictures in the fire.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/Firevictims-atd-031419-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"Estela Garcia Lopez shows a picture she has of her two children on her cell phone. She said she lost most of her pictures in the fire.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Estela Garcia Lopez shows a picture she has of her two children on her cell phone. She said she lost most of her pictures in the fire.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/Firevictims-atd-031419-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/Firevictims-atd-031419-1-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times | Smoke rolls out of the Garcia's mobile home on Homestead Drive on Saturday night.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/Firevictims-atd-031419-1-2.jpg\" alt=\"Smoke rolls out of the Garcia's mobile home on Homestead Drive on Saturday night.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Smoke rolls out of the Garcia&#8217;s mobile home on Homestead Drive on Saturday night.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/Firevictims-atd-031419-1-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/Firevictims-atd-031419-1-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times | Firefighters battle a fire at the Garcia home in the Homestead Park on Saturday night.\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"6.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/03\/Firevictims-atd-031419-1-3.jpg\" alt=\"Firefighters battle a fire at the Garcia home in the Homestead Park on Saturday night.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Firefighters battle a fire at the Garcia home in the Homestead Park on Saturday night.<\/strong><br \/>Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/basalt-family-receives-outpouring-of-support-after-losing-everything-in-house-fire\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/basalt-family-receives-outpouring-of-support-after-losing-everything-in-house-fire\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Estela Garcia Lopez was settled into the front row at The Temporary on Saturday evening preparing to watch Aspen Santa Fe Ballet\u2019s Folklorico\u2019s program when she noticed her cell phone was blowing up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It was supposed to be a special night for Estela and her husband, Martin Garcia, because Estela is typically working at the concession stand at Folklorico events. But Saturday she was in position to finally relax and watch her two children perform dances.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The sheer number of telephone calls she missed forced her to return a call from neighbor before the dancing began.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThey said, \u2018Estela, where are you? You\u2019re house is burning,\u2019\u201d she recalled from the house of a friend Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Garcias rushed to Homestead Park in Basalt and found their house of 13 years <a id=\"N0x2af9990N0x2a7aaa0:N0x2af9990N0x2b09958\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/fire-destroys-basalt-mobile-home-but-firefighters-prevent-spread-in-homestead-neighborhood\/\">in flames<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI was in shock. My house was on fire,\u201d Estela said. \u201cWe lost everything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Added Martin: \u201cWhen you leave the house, you only take the clothes you are wearing and your keys.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The contents that did not burn were destroyed by smoke and water. The family didn\u2019t have insurance on the mobile home because of its age. They had been exploring getting insurance on their possessions but hadn\u2019t acted yet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Department determined the fire started in a utility room where the furnace was located. The fire was ruled accidental.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The couple\u2019s children were dancing with Folklorico while the tragedy unfolded. Ximena, 15, a sophomore at Basalt High School, and Joel, 11, a fifth-grader at Basalt Middle School learned the family lost everything after the performance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It was hard enough losing their house and possessions. It was tragic that the Garcias\u2019s two pets died \u2014 a Chihuahua named Cosita and a parrot named Joey.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Now, the family is trying to recover from the shock. Aspen Santa Fe Ballet provided them with an apartment for the short-term. They are looking for lodging to get them through roughly four months. Meanwhile, they are exploring the idea of purchasing a new mobile home and returning to Homestead Park. Friends and acquaintances have rallied to supply them with clothing and necessities of every day life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cFortunately, (we) have good friends,\u201d Martin said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI am impressed that we are not alone,\u201d added Estela. \u201cThe response of people \u2014 they have broken my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">She meant it in a good way. One of their closest friends is Polly Pollard, who started working as a tutor with Estela 12 years ago through English in Action.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cEverybody is just heartbroken over what happened,\u201d Pollard said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">She said Martin and Estella are very involved in the community so they are well-known. Estela gives back through English in Action by working with beginning students. She is also active in the music and choir program at St. Vincent Catholic Church in Basalt. She\u2019s been active in volunteering with the Folklorico program since Ximena and Joel got involved when they were in pre-school.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Estela and Martin were both professionals in Mexico City before they moved to the Roaring Fork Valley. Estela operated her own clinic. Martin was an electrical engineer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It was difficult for them to find employment in their professions after they immigrated to the U.S. In the Roaring Fork Valley, Estela works as a professional trainer in Carbondale. Martin works in the engineering department at the Snowmass Club.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">They are determined to rebuild their lives in Basalt and specifically at Homestead Park. Estela asked her kids if they wanted to move to a different house after the tragedy. They want to stay put.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">For all of them, it\u2019s where their friends are located. It\u2019s close to the schools and the institutions that are part of their lives.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It\u2019s also where their pets were buried this week, in the backyard.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The folks at Aspen Santa Fe Ballet have started a <a id=\"N0x2af9990N0x2a7abc0:N0x2af9990N0x2b0a498\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/garcia-family-emergency-fund\">GoFundMe account to help the Garcias<\/a>. It can be found by searching for The Garcia Family Emergency Fund. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than $27,000 had been raised.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\">scondon@aspentimes.com<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/basalt-family-receives-outpouring-of-support-after-losing-everything-in-house-fire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Martin and Estela Garcia at a friend&#8217;s house in Basalt on Tuesday. The couple and their two kids lost their home and all possessions in a fire Saturday.Anna Stonehouse\/The Aspen Times Estela Garcia Lopez shows a picture she has of her two children on her cell phone. She said she lost most of her pictures [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2441688","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-15 07:46:36","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2441688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2441688"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2441688\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2441688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2441688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2441688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}