Dozens gather in East Naples to help man who lost home in brush fire
Jim Kurth will never forget the brush fire that destroyed the Golden Gate Estates home he'd made a life in for more than 30 years.
He also won't forget the people who came together to help him when he thought he had lost it all.
Kurth's home, at 4895 Le Buffs Road, was one of four rural homes burned down by the 7,500-acre fire that started spreading in early March south of the Alligator Alley toll plaza and east of Collier Boulevard.
More than 100 friends and relatives gathered Saturday at the Elks Lodge in East Naples to raise money to help Kurth rebuild his home.
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Kurth, 59, said March 7 started out like any other day.
He was spraying water in his backyard when he saw flames nearby.
"It was so fast that by the time it got up to the house, the only thing I had time to do was get in the car and leave," he said.
He escaped the fire with his Rottweiler dog, Junior.
Kurth had paid off the house about a year ago and wasn’t insured.
He is living temporarily with his daughter Shenna Zurbrigg at her home in Golden Gate Estates until he can get back on his feet.
He and his loved ones hope it won't be for too long.
His friends and family members established a GoFundMe account, www.gofundme.com/house-caught-fire-in-a-brush-fire, which has raised about $21,000 in the past month to help Kurth rebuild his home.
Zurbrigg was able to rally dozens of businesses to sponsor the benefit, which included a silent auction with many items up for grabs, such as a charter fishing trip, a golf excursion, restaurant gift cards and a grill.
"I just went from store to store and to people that we know, asking them if they wanted to sponsor the event," Zurbrigg said.
The Elks Lodge served as the venue and helped sponsor the benefit, which turned into a celebration with snow cones, music, barbecue and raffle prizes.
Collier County brush fire grows to 7,500 acres, but residents allowed to return and I-75 reopens
"I don't know what I'd do without my friends and family. They're just amazing," Kurth said.
He never experienced a brush fire like the one he did last month.
The blaze turned his home into rubble. All that was left were charred vehicles, garage door parts, damaged riding lawn mowers and two boats. Nothing else remained of Kurth's life there. Not even one family photo.
"You never think it's going to happen to you," he said.
"And when it did happen, I was shocked and in disbelief, and I didn't know what I was going to do. It's just your whole life. It just goes away."
During the three weeks after the fire, Kurth said he didn't want to speak to anyone.
"But you get over it," he said.
Now he is looking to the future in hopes of rebuilding his life with the help of his family and friends.
