The community is rallying behind a Pleasanton family that lost their home to a fire earlier this month, according to a press release from Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty's office.
April Martinez and her children, ages 5 and 12, lost everything except the clothes they were wearing when their mobile home caught fire in the Alameda County Fairgrounds on Feb. 11.
Martinez, who is a jockey and horse trainer, said the fire began in the bedroom of her 32-foot trailer when her 5-year-old son started playing with matches as she was lying down in another room.
The family escaped unharmed, but the Martinez family living situation is now up in the air.
In response, the community, private businesses and local agencies are helping the Martinez family get back on their feet.
Businesses and county agencies have started raising funds to buy Martinez a new trailer.
Many contributions have been made, but there is still a ways to go.
If you are interested in donating, an account in the name of April Boag Martinez has been set up at the Fremont Bank-Pleasanton Branch, located at 6654 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 345 in Pleasanton.
For more information about the fundraiser or the fire, please contact Frank Imhof of Imhof Tractor Services at 510-377-9556.