Marsha Schoeffler was pitting cherries in her kitchen when her neighbor knocked on her door with alarming news: a fire had started just a mile away from her home in rural north-central Idaho. Schoeffler, who lives four miles from Kendrick, a small town of about 300 people in Latah County, stepped outside to see smoke rising in the distance. Realizing the imminent danger, she quickly packed her Jeep with essential belongings and evacuated.
The following morning, Schoeffler returned to a devastating sight—the wildfire had completely consumed her home. In a phone interview with the Idaho Capital Sun, she recounted the shock of seeing her home reduced to ashes. Despite receiving a payout from her home insurance policy, Schoeffler found that it was insufficient to cover the full costs of reconstruction.
Turning to the Community for Help
Determined to rebuild, Schoeffler turned to her community for support. Friends set up a GoFundMe campaign that has since raised over $39,000 toward a $50,000 goal. Schoeffler emphasized the importance of regularly updating home insurance policies to reflect current construction costs and home values.
“The insurance wasn’t enough to cover everything,” she said, encouraging others to reassess their coverage. The GoFundMe campaign, along with the support from her friends and community, has been a beacon of hope for Schoeffler during this challenging time. Neighbors have adopted her garden, offered her temporary housing, and provided emotional support. Currently, she is staying in Moscow, Idaho, while she plans her next steps.
Escaping the Flames
On the day of the fire, Schoeffler had about an hour to gather her belongings. She took photos, clothes, fishing poles, a box accordion, three fiddles, and fiddle music she had collected over the years. With her camping gear already packed from a recent trip, she drove away from her home, stopping to check on neighbors and to watch the smoke rise from a safe distance.
The Texas Fire, a human-caused wildfire that burned 1,582 acres outside of Kendrick, started on July 15 and is now 80% contained. Schoeffler expressed gratitude for the quick response from firefighters and acknowledged that the fire could have been much worse. “I was in the bullseye of it, so I got hit pretty hard. But it could’ve been so much worse and affected so many more people. So I’m really thankful for that,” she said.
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A Dream Turned to Ashes
For Schoeffler, the loss is deeply personal. Ten years ago, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of having a cabin on the property she inherited from her family. After retiring from her career as a video producer, she dedicated herself to maintaining and enhancing her land, planting new trees, and keeping the brush clear. “I had just created a little piece of heaven on Earth there,” she reflected.
The fire also destroyed properties belonging to her sister and cousin and claimed the forest she cherished. Although the forest will eventually regenerate, Schoeffler knows it won’t happen in her lifetime. “I always knew it would burn sometime. It’s not a matter of ‘Will it?’ It’s just a matter of when,” she said. “It might’ve been in my lifetime or not. But I’ve never known of a fire like this on that property … since my great-grandparents were there in the 1880s.”
Plans for Reconstruction
While Schoeffler is still uncertain about the total costs and specific plans for rebuilding her home, she has begun reaching out to builders and local authorities. She plans to start cleaning up the property in September. Fortunately, her solar panels survived the fire, which means she won’t have to start entirely from scratch. Her off-the-grid home also had a well and septic drain field that remain intact.
In August, Schoeffler will attend an annual old-time music campout in Centralia, Washington, where she will reunite with many of her musician friends. One of these friends has offered to help with architectural plans for the new house. Each May, Schoeffler’s property would host “Marsha Fest,” a gathering where friends from across the West would play old-time fiddle tunes. Sadly, she doesn’t expect to hold the event next year.
“All of those people are just heartbroken for me. And maybe a little bit for themselves, too. Because it ain’t the same place anymore,” she said.
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Moving Forward with Hope
Despite the immense loss, Schoeffler remains hopeful and grateful for the support she has received. The community’s generosity and solidarity have been a source of strength, helping her navigate this difficult period. As she moves forward with reconstruction plans, she continues to draw on the resilience and determination that have guided her throughout her life. With the help of her community, Schoeffler is committed to rebuilding her home and restoring the little piece of heaven she once had.
The journey ahead is challenging, but with unwavering support, Schoeffler is confident that she will rebuild and reclaim her dream. The fundraiser, now nearing its goal, is a testament to the power of community and the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity.
