Walking past the Denman family home on Regal Street, it is easy to assume that the burned, caved-in roof of the garage was the only damage caused by the house fire. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Denmans were out at dinner at Remlinger Farms Restaurant on a casual Friday night, May 9, when their phones began to buzz with messages from friends that their house was on fire. With their three children in tow, Bailey and Taylor drove back to a scene of fire engines and their home of over a decade in flames. Aside from their kitten, Bella, everything else was lost.
“I have to carry that. I’m thankful that that’s me and not my kids,” Bailey Denman said.
Since the beginning of that night, neighbors and community members have donated clothes, gift cards and time to help the Denman family. Neighbors set up traps during the days following the incident looking for Bella, who was found the same day that their family dog, Nellie, succumbed to her injuries from the fire.
“We have the most incredible community,” Bailey said. “People helping us find our cat — I just am so thankful. You don’t know how kind and loving people are until something happens and everybody just comes out and lifts up people who are struggling one way or another.”
With all their belongings of both monetary and sentimental value, from old Hot Wheels to childhood books on Peter Rabbit, the Denmans are trying to salvage what they can. But along with the grief, the support from the community has been overwhelming. Immediately after the fire, family friends Kyla Page and Christina Mann set up a GoFundMe for the Denmans, with a goal to reach $35,000. The funds that have been received are now over $36,000 as of this writing.
Currently staying with family in North Bend until they can find a rental home in Carnation, the hope is that in the near future, they will be able to rebuild. Until then, the money raised has already gone toward paying for Nellie’s medical fees, but also toward simple things that bring joy to their kids, like getting nails done at the salon and planning for a birthday party.
“This money makes it easy for me to say yes to things for them right now,” Bailey said.
Aside from being active in the Timberlake Church as PTSA co-president at the local school, Bailey Denman completed a master’s degree in social work. Her daughter recently celebrated her ninth birthday. In the wake of the devastation and loss that their family is going through, focusing on the good things that are still happening in their lives helps make the grief more bearable, according to Bailey.
An investigation to determine the cause of the fire is currently ongoing.
Patches, one of the family’s cats, was lost in the fire. Photos of courtesy of Bailey Denman
Their family dog, Nellie, succumbed to her injuries from the fire.
Books salvaged from the fire. Photo by Perris Larson
Books salvaged from the fire. Photo by Perris Larson
Bella, one of the family’s cats, survived the fire. Photo courtesy of Bailey Denman
