Ojai Valley News Blog

By Misty Volaski
The Erickson-Brosius family is still sorting out their lives after a quick-moving fire engulfed and destroyed their Grand Avenue residence last Thursday morning.

Although the family lost almost everything they owned — a band member’s Fender Mustang guitar, medical records, baby pictures — Tom Erickson, Judith Brosius, their son, J.T., and two other residents have been overwhelmed by the community response so far.

A one-year anniversary celebration for the local store Made in Ojai turned into a benefit for the Erickson-Brosius family, and that, combined with other donations, has garnered about $1,200 so far, plus help from the Red Cross.

“They are in such appreciation and awe at the love and support that has come in from the community,” said family friend Judy Gabriel, whose son Zander skateboards with J.T. “Bags of oranges and fresh figs show up on the doorstep with a sweet note and poem of inspiration; a new skate deck and shirt for J.T. donated by Five Points skate shop in Ventura; $175 collected from folks who were here from Hawaii and don’t even know the family.”

“I want to thank Judy Gabriel and Roberta Raye (of Made in Ojai) right away for getting right on it,” said a grateful Tom Erickson.

Martha Ditchfield, Wendy Hilgers, Susan, Virginia, and Kim Smith helped out by “doing a ton of laundry, really helped us out,” Erickson added. “Kim got us early entry into the Nordhoff rummage sale” to get items they needed most, like clothes that fit. More clothes are needed: Judith needs drawstring medium pants and medium shirts; Tom need pants size 32-30, medium shirts; J.T. needs pants size 28, large T-shirts, and skate shoes, size 8.

Erickson, who builds chicken coops for a living, lost his work truck and almost all his tools, including a 10-inch compound mitre saw and 10-inch table saw.

Also lost were couches, a single and a double bed, a laptop computer and several musical instruments for J.T.’s band, the Sidewalk Slammers. Five guitars were lost as well as amps, a P.A., keyboard and drum set.

To donate items, e-mail info@MadeInOjai.com or jangelgabriel@gmail.com.

A bank account has been set up at Ojai Community Bank under “Erickson/Brosius Fire Fund.” A web site has also been set up — OjaiHomeFire.com — as well as a Facebook Cause page.