While all eyes are fixated on the Arizona fires in the east, one fire has touch the lives of the running community in Ahwatukee.
This morning at 3 am, Brittany Tretbar (Jr., Desert Vista) was just 2 hours from waking for her morning run with teammates from the Desert Vista Cross Country Team. Instead of waking to her alarm clock she woke to the fire alarm as her mom was running into her bedroom to make she she and her younger brother Shane got out of the house quickly. The downstairs was in flames.
They all made it out safely.
Brittany's bedroom is directly above the garage where the fire started. As she jumped out of bed she grabbed her watch and her running shoes but as soon as she got out of the house she realized she grabbed the wrong watch and the wrong shoes. Her garman running watch was still upstairs with her running shoes.
As word spred about the fire, some team members (former and current) and their families and neighbors rallied around Brittany and her family to help salvage whatever they could. Some of the team members helping were: Natalie Krafft, Colleen Henderson, Shannon Masel, Caroline Ozer, Nicole Hicks, Erin Andrews-Sharer (2011), Michelle Splaver (2011), Ali Connell (2010) and her mom Tammy, Carter Macey and his mom Heather, Ryan Maack 2011, Jenna Maack and her mom Kris, Elise Richardson, Andy Lopez and Alexa Foster
Coach Hanson (DV Distance Coach), Merideth Smith (DV High Jump Coach), Mike Smith (Altadena Middle School Coach) and Kris Alexander (Mesa Mountain View Distance Coach) all pitched in, cleaning up the area around the fire.
Sole Sports owner Kemo Seymour came by with a truck to help move anything that could be saved to his home.
With so many helping, the Tretbar family sounded upbeat but what they lost was starting to sink in. "I just bought new softball equipment last month," said Brittany. "And I can't believe I grabbed the wrong watch and the wrong shoes." The Tretbar's rent the home and the insurance they have is minimal and will not cover what they lost. They lost pretty much everything and will have to start over.
Even their car sat melted in the garage.
For now the Tretbar family will be staying with the Maack family. Brittany was wearing her friend Jenna Maack's clothes this morning as she can only claim a pair of pajamas and slippers (and the wrong watch and shoes).
Brittany is one of Desert Vista's top runners finishing 3rd at the Arizona State Cross Country Meet in November 2010. (Photo right of 3rd place finish)
Fund-raising efforts are underway but for now if you are able to help, donations are being accepted for 90 days at any branch of the Arizona Federal Credit Union. The Ahwatukee Branch is located in the Southeast corner of 48th and Chandler.