Urgent: Rebuild After Fire & Loss of 2 Dogs
By Andrew Harris, Visit GoFundMe here
A January 25th fire in the Town of Wellsville destroyed a family home and all family possessions. Perhaps worse was the loss of two of the Ahrens family three dogs.
Friends and family have rallied around the family of three to help them rebuild their life after the unimaginable. A GoFundMe crowdfunding effort has been launched for the community to help with the basics, housing, clothing, and other basic needs. From the GoFundMe page:
Tracy and Rick Ahrens, along with their daughter Melody, have experienced a devastating loss. I am Zyaire Brantley, Tracy’s nephew, and I am reaching out on their behalf after a tragedy that has left them with nothing. On 01/26/26, a fire caused by a heater destroyed their trailer in just four minutes. While Melody was safe at her aunt’s house, Tracy and Rick had to escape the flames and tried desperately to save their three dogs. Their puppy, Clifford, tragically died in the fire, and their oldest dog, Bella, managed to escape with Rick, who risked his own safety to go back inside. Sadly, Skye, another beloved dog, could not be found despite multiple searches by family and friends. Melody has lost her world, and the family is heartbroken over the loss of their pets and their home. They lost everything they owned—Tracy had no shoes, and Rick had to throw his boots from the fire. This is a huge tragedy for a family in need, and they are now facing the challenge of rebuilding their lives from scratch. The funds raised will help Tracy, Rick, and Melody get essential items for living, including clothing, bedding, hygiene items, groceries, and dog food. Every bit of support will go a long way in helping them recover from this unimaginable loss. Please consider helping this family in their time of need. Your kindness and generosity will make a real difference as they work to rebuild and heal after this tragedy.
Read our reporting from the incident:
