On Nov. 3, in Boulder’s Sunset Court trailer park, a power cord overheated. That sparked a fire, which would go on to destroy two residential trailers. Josh and Makila Bumgarner, their six daughters, and their neighbor, Mike Pendergast, could do nothing as the flames destroyed most of their possessions, and their homes.
“As it was happening, Mike (Pendergast) and I tried to fight it for a moment,” said Josh Bumgarner. “But there wasn’t really anything to be done, and after a while we accepted that we just had to sit and watch it all burn.”
However, all emerged safely, and local community members are now rallying around the victims to help them return to normal life. The Bumgarners, who have lived in Boulder for six years and have five daughters currently enrolled at Boulder Elementary School, report that local businesses and community members have been providing the family with significant support since the fire.
“There have been a lot of tearful, painful moments this week, and we’re all very tired,” said Josh Bumgarner. “But there really isn’t any community like Boulder. The donations have been overwhelming, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
Support has come from all corners. The Boulder See & Save arranged for boxes of clothing, cookware, and shoes to be donated to the Bumgarners. The See & Save’s Vickie Cordeiro said that the store frequently provides community and disaster assistance, including clothing and blankets for unhoused people and sending supplies to the sites of national disasters, such as Hurricane Milton.
“We don’t just help when terrible things like this happen,” said Cordeiro. “We try to help anyone we think might really need it, even if we’re just giving to those who are a little down on their luck. Helping the Bumgarners was a really easy choice for us. We’re here for this community; they support us, and we support them.”
Dave’s 32oz Bar and Grill donated proceeds from their recent Halloween celebration to the Bumgarners. It also is hosting a competitive bingo night for the family on Friday, Nov. 15, alongside a watch party for the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul boxing match.
Dave’s 32oz Bar and Grill owner Dave Schell hopes the evening will result in additional material and financial donations for the family. “I’ve known Josh (Bumgarner) for a long while, and we’re going to do everything we can to help their family,” said Schell. “We’re putting together some nice baskets for the bingo winners, but, hopefully, a few will just donate what they win right back. Everyone wants to help, and we’re going to do what we can.”
The L&P Grocery created a private account for the Bumgarner’s that, in addition to the store’s own cash donation, allows for individuals to directly contribute to the Bumgarner’s grocery costs. L&P owner Lisa Vossler made clear how important such community contributions are to creating and supporting a healthy community.
“There is a real community spirit in Boulder that we’re careful to protect,” said Vossler. “Helping, I feel here, is mostly done anonymously. No one needs any notoriety, but we all need to help each other. And we really just want the family (Bumgarners) to be able to come in and get what they need right now.”
Rocky Mountain Insulation has also made an unspecified, yet significant, material donation to the Bumgarners. While Pendergast has received a number of private donations, and has himself contributed to assisting the Bumgarners, he has not received the same level of organized support as the family.
“I just want to thank every single person who’s been so generous to me, and really this whole community. God bless you all,” said Pendergast. “But, no, I haven’t been included in some of the things that’ve been done for the Bumgarners. I really don’t need to be though! It’s a hard situation, but I know God is blessing me. And I hope he blesses them (the Bumgarners), too!”
“I’m not one to cry over spilt milk,” said Pendergast. “I’m just so thankful that those kids got out. Ultimately, my dog and I will be ok, and I’m staying positive.”
The Bumgarners are currently living in Boulder with Makila’s parents. Pendergast is staying in the Sunset Court trailer park’s laundry room until a replacement trailer arrives for him this Saturday.
Both the Bumgarners and Pendergast have had GoFundMe campaigns established on their behalf. Donations to the Bumgarners can be sent to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kila-and-josh-rebuild-after-fire or https://www.gofundme.com/f/zmcj8-support-a-family-of-eight-after-devastating-fire.
Donations to Pendergast can be sent to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/restore-hope-for-big-mike-and-ruger
