A devastating fire on Sunday, May 26, has left several businesses in downtown Alpine, Texas, grappling with significant losses. The blaze, which erupted at 109-115 West Holland Avenue, has destroyed historic structures and prompted a wave of community support and fundraising efforts to assist those impacted. Alpine, located in the mountainous Big Bend region of West Texas, is known for its vibrant community and historic charm.
The Brewster County Sheriff’s Office issued an advisory during the fire, urging residents to avoid the downtown area. At 8:08 PM, the office updated the public, stating, “At this time the fire is contained to the already damaged structures and is not spreading. The Alpine Volunteer Fire Department is being assisted by firefighters from Marathon, Marfa, and Fort Davis, as well as various fire crews from the Forest Service. One firefighter was transported to Big Bend Regional Medical Center for treatment. Continue to avoid the downtown area, as these crews continue to work.”
Among those leading the recovery efforts, Javelinas on Holland Gift Shop is hosting a fundraiser, Working Together Wednesday, from 5-10 PM on May 29. The event will feature live music, shopping, art, food, and more. The shop announced on social media, “If you can’t join us but want to give you can through Historic Alpine using this link https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=WXP98C946ZVEN. We will also be taking donations Saturday at the Alpine Farmers Market.”
Historic Alpine, Inc. has also launched a fundraising campaign to support affected businesses. The organization stated, “Our purpose is to offer emergency assistance for reopening businesses affected by the fire in the next 90 days. Funds will be directed to those businesses that secure new locations, ensuring they can resume serving our community without undue delay.”
Businesses affected by the fire include Judy’s Bread and Breakfast, Eva’s Salon, Gallery on the Square, La Azteca, and Vintage Antiques and Snazzy Things. Donations can be made through the PayPal link or by mailing contributions to Historic Alpine, Inc., P.O. Box 304, Alpine, TX 79831, marked as Alpine Business Fire Relief Fund.
The Marathon Volunteer Fire Department, which assisted in combating the fire, reported, “Once on scene, responders tied in with Incident Command and received our assignments. At that time, the strip of structures was already fully involved and fire appeared to be rapidly moving through an attic space from room to room.” During the operations, a firefighter was injured but later returned to the scene after medical evaluation.
Terlingua Fire & EMS expressed gratitude for the community’s support during the fire operations. Captain J. Thomason, AEMT, Public Information Officer, stated, “Following the tragedy of Sunday’s fire, Terlingua Fire & EMS would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the community of Alpine and surrounding areas for their generous support during fire operations. We are humbled by the outpouring of love shown to our Big Bend Region Firefighters, Forestry Firefighters, state Firefighters, and out-of-state firefighters. The community brought boxes of pizzas, Subway sandwiches, water, Gatorade, McDonald’s, and snacks from Lowe’s and Dollar General to the Rehab Zone of Incident Command, all without seeking thanks but simply because they knew it needed to be done. This is a true testament to the love we, as residents of the Big Bend Region of Texas, share with our neighbors.”
As the community rallies to support the affected businesses, transparency and proper use of funds are emphasized. Historic Alpine, Inc. assures that all donations will be used strictly for the outlined purposes and that recipients must disclose assistance to their insurance providers to avoid claims of double compensation.
For more information or to contribute, contact Abbey Branch at abbey@historicalpine.org or 713-515-1204.
Sidebar:
How to Help:
- Donate Online: PayPal Link
- Mail Donations: Historic Alpine, Inc., P.O. Box 304, Alpine, TX 79831 (mark as Alpine Business Fire Relief Fund)
- Attend Fundraisers: Working Together Wednesday at Javelinas on Holland Gift Shop, 5-10 PM, May 29; Donations accepted at Alpine Farmers Market on Saturday.
Businesses Affected:
- Judy’s Bread and Breakfast
- Eva’s Salon
- Gallery on the Square
- La Azteca
- Vintage Antiques and Snazzy Things
Contact:
- Abbey Branch, Historic Alpine, Inc.
- Email: abbey@historicalpine.org
- Phone: 713-515-1204
Image Credit: https://www.facebook.com/brewstercountytx
Texas Reporter 