NEDERLAND, Colo. — A fire captain and his firefighter-paramedic wife lost their home to a wildfire that broke out Saturday, but continued to save the homes of their neighbors.
Charlie and Bretlyn Schmidtmann’s home was one of six buildings lost to a wildfire that began over the weekend, reported the Daily Camera.
Charlie Schmidtmann is a captain for the Nederland Fire Protection District. His wife, Bretlyn, is an ER nurse, paramedic and volunteer firefighter.
The captain was able to rescue a horse and donkey from his property when the fire broke out, but the house was already engulfed in flames.
“At this point they haven’t even begun to figure out what they’re going to need, but they lost everything,” Tessa Miller, the couple’s friend told the publication. “They’re not the type of people who ever think about asking for help, so I figure I would ask for them. “
As of Tuesday, a GoFundMe fundraiser has raised more than $70,000 for the couple.
“They’re amazing people. If anybody deserves that help, it’s them,” Miller said.