A GoFundMe has been created for Cocolalla resident Bob Taggesell after his house burned down on Oct. 26.

Eileen Esplin, the organizer of the fundraiser, said she knows Taggesell through his volunteer work at the local nonprofit Firewood Rescue.

“He’s a really good volunteer, and he works really hard,” Esplin said.

Taggesell’s chimney caught fire on Monday, she said, and the snow and ice slowed emergency responders.

“He lit up his wood stove and before going outside, he checked the temperature, put his hand on the flue, and it was warm but it wasn’t hot,” she said.

Taggesell walked out to his barn, and was there when the fire began.

“A few minutes later he heard this horrible noise, and the chimney was on fire,” she said. “By the time [firefighters] could really do anything, the house was pretty much burned down.”

Taggesell lost his kitchen and clothing in the fire, she said, and is in need or work boots or winter boots and warm outerwear in size large. He is also in need of a small propane stove, she said, as he is converting an area of his barn into a living space.

He has tools and will be able to build for himself, she said, but will need to to enclose the space.

“If people even want to give a couple of dollars that’ll help,” Esplin said. “And be appreciated.”