Erik & Scott Torgeson Relief
Donation protected
Erik Torgeson, Bulldog with Lucky Dog Racing League, has lost his Dad's home, and quite possibly one of his homes as well, in the Lionshead and Beachie fires obliterating the forested lands of eastern Marion county Oregon.
Erik will have to support his recently widowed father through his recovery, and handle two burnt home situations, while being a single Dad. Donate what you can, to help one of our own out.
I, Chris Wilhelm, am just the conduit between our community of racers with Lucky Dog, and Erik.
From Erik Torgeson
Update: Dad is in Emanuel Burn Center. He is stable and communicative, but in a lot of discomfort so the pain meds are making him groggy. He has burns on 17-20% of his body, with severe burns on his calves and one forearm. He will have skin graft surgeries this coming week, likely more than one. The doctor was cautiously optimistic for a reasonable outcome, given his age. He will be here for weeks to months, and will need further rehab care for many months after that.
He can't have visitors other than me, unfortunately. He recounted his tale to me, I'll attempt to do it justice:
After kayaking with family, he went up to his house to prepare for the expected evacuation today. He gathered the things he wanted, and was tired from the day, so figured it was safe to sleep up there. He slept through the sheriff's bang on the door, and was only awoken by the neighbors propane tanks exploding as their house was engulfed by flames.
He jumped in the RAV4 and was able to get out of their road onto the North Fork Road, driving past all the neighbors houses on fire (except one, the log cabin. We can hope). Only a little while down the road he hit a downed tree he couldn't see due to smoke and the car got stuck on it. He decided to make a run for it, not knowing the whole road was in flames all the way down. In his words, the high winds saved him as they kept bringing wafts of fresh air. He had to run through three sections of road that were fully involved on both sides, holding his breath and hoping for gusts of clean air. At about mile post 4 he came across a woman on the side of the road also trying to walk out, who said she couldn't go on. He said he'd send help if he could. Another fire storm run later he saw headlights approaching, and flagged them down. It was the woman's husband with a flat bed coming to try and save their possessions (all the houses along the road were on fire). He told him about the woman, and begged for a ride on their way back down. A long while later they came back down and thankfully stopped to pick up my dad. The woman was in very bad shape.
They stopped at the intersection of 22 and North Fork and awaited ambulances. The other woman took the first one, he got the second some 20 minutes later.
Not only is he a loving family man and talented teacher, he's apparently also an iron man. I'm incredibly thankful to have him after resigning myself to his likely passing. I am a lucky man today, and we'll traverse the road ahead together.
Thank you all for the offers of support, help, and love. It means the world to me and I'll reach out if I need anything.
Erik will have to support his recently widowed father through his recovery, and handle two burnt home situations, while being a single Dad. Donate what you can, to help one of our own out.
I, Chris Wilhelm, am just the conduit between our community of racers with Lucky Dog, and Erik.
From Erik Torgeson
Update: Dad is in Emanuel Burn Center. He is stable and communicative, but in a lot of discomfort so the pain meds are making him groggy. He has burns on 17-20% of his body, with severe burns on his calves and one forearm. He will have skin graft surgeries this coming week, likely more than one. The doctor was cautiously optimistic for a reasonable outcome, given his age. He will be here for weeks to months, and will need further rehab care for many months after that.
He can't have visitors other than me, unfortunately. He recounted his tale to me, I'll attempt to do it justice:
After kayaking with family, he went up to his house to prepare for the expected evacuation today. He gathered the things he wanted, and was tired from the day, so figured it was safe to sleep up there. He slept through the sheriff's bang on the door, and was only awoken by the neighbors propane tanks exploding as their house was engulfed by flames.
He jumped in the RAV4 and was able to get out of their road onto the North Fork Road, driving past all the neighbors houses on fire (except one, the log cabin. We can hope). Only a little while down the road he hit a downed tree he couldn't see due to smoke and the car got stuck on it. He decided to make a run for it, not knowing the whole road was in flames all the way down. In his words, the high winds saved him as they kept bringing wafts of fresh air. He had to run through three sections of road that were fully involved on both sides, holding his breath and hoping for gusts of clean air. At about mile post 4 he came across a woman on the side of the road also trying to walk out, who said she couldn't go on. He said he'd send help if he could. Another fire storm run later he saw headlights approaching, and flagged them down. It was the woman's husband with a flat bed coming to try and save their possessions (all the houses along the road were on fire). He told him about the woman, and begged for a ride on their way back down. A long while later they came back down and thankfully stopped to pick up my dad. The woman was in very bad shape.
They stopped at the intersection of 22 and North Fork and awaited ambulances. The other woman took the first one, he got the second some 20 minutes later.
Not only is he a loving family man and talented teacher, he's apparently also an iron man. I'm incredibly thankful to have him after resigning myself to his likely passing. I am a lucky man today, and we'll traverse the road ahead together.
Thank you all for the offers of support, help, and love. It means the world to me and I'll reach out if I need anything.
Give $100 to help get this fundraiser to its goal
Fundraising team (2)
Chris Wilhelm
Organizer
Salem, OR
Erik Torgeson
Beneficiary
Jason Miles
Team member
