Community Rallies to Help Family Displaced by Mad River Road Fire

A young Humboldt County mother and her three children are asking for the community’s help after a house fire destroyed their home this week, according to a fundraiser being circulated by family and friends.

Firefighters responded to a fully involved structure fire on Mad River Road north of Arcata, according to scanner traffic reported by Redheaded Blackbelt. The incident commander reported the structure was fully engulfed upon arrival at 862 Mad River Road, and an additional water tender was called in from Kneeland to help crews battle the blaze.

According to the fundraiser, the mother, Amanda Jones, and her three children, ages 5, 3 and 2 months, made it out of the fire safely but lost nearly all of their belongings, including car keys. Their vehicle survived the fire. The family is described in the appeal as needing help with basic essentials, from hygiene items to housing costs, as Jones works to get back on her feet while still in the early months of caring for a newborn.

The post, shared by Hanna Smith, a close friend, describes Jones as a devoted mother who has “always been the first to help others” and is now asking the community to return the favor. The fundraiser is being shared locally, and donations are also being accepted through Venmo under the handle @amandakatejoness.

For more information, view the GoFundMe here: https://gofund.me/947dcd08e