Bushilla Fire Fund: Can You Help This Local Couple?

Dan and Erlinda Bushilla awoke early at 5 AM on Monday, February 5, 2024, to discover a fire had engulfed their shop, which was only eight feet away from their home.

Erlinda ran for her cell phone in her car to call 911. Unfortunately, the 911 respondent could not understand Erlinda's English so she had to run the phone to Dan to get the message for help to be sent.

The Whitehall Volunteer Fire Department arrived in time (with the help of some neighboring units) to prevent the fire from spreading to the house. The shop, however, is a complete loss.

Unfortunately, their loss was not covered by insurance. Lost were all of Dan's carpentry and mechanic tools, auto and motorcycle parts, electrical and plumbing supplies, and fasteners of all types-just too much to mention.

Dan, a veteran, is a descendant of Shadan LaHood, who came to this valley more than 100 years ago. Mr. LaHood built a hotel, a campground, and a restaurant on the Jefferson River near the canyon. Many family memorabilia items went up in flames that Monday, in 2001 as well. Lost was a lifetime collection of tools that homesteaders needed. Those things are irreplaceable.

As a community that helps our own, please bring your donations to the Whitehall Medical Clinic, and we will see that Dan and Erlinda get every penny. If you want to make a sizeable donation and make it tax deductible, you may make the check out to the Assembly of God with a memo "fire fund" and they will see that you get a suitable receipt.

When the time comes for clean up of the ruins of the shop, Dan and Erlinda would certainly appreciate help from neighbors and friends. Call Dan at 406-287-6002.

Dan's brother and the Assembly of God have set up a GoFundMe site, which is available at https://www.gofundme.com/f/dan-and-linda-bushilla if you prefer to contribute in that manner. All donations are greatly appreciated.