Community rallies to support Chisago Co. Sheriff's deputy after loss of K-9 partner, 2 other dogs in fire
LINDSTROM, Minn. – A community northeast of the Twin Cities is rallying in support of a local law enforcement officer who lost everything in a house fire that killed his K-9 partner and two other family dogs.
Law enforcement in the Chisago County Sheriff's Office said that Sheriff's Deputy Nate Fisher's home is a total loss after the blaze, which destroyed all of their belongings Monday afternoon – leaving him and his family displaced just before Christmas.
Fisher, his wife and two children are safe. But their animals, including K-9 Kyro, did not survive.
Kyro was just about to turn 2 years old. Cpt. Derek Anklan said officials believe a wood-burning stove likely caused the fire.
"That becomes another partner on their team, becomes somebody they rely on and a lot of really critical life and death situations," Anklan said. "When you take that partner away overnight unexpected, it's really hard."
Anklan said Fisher and his family are still processing what happened but are "overwhelmed" with gratitude by the support and generosity of the community. People have donated clothes, blankets, food, gift cards and other essentials to help them as they work to rebuild.
A GoFundMe nearly reached its $100,000 fundraising goal just 24 hours after the tragedy. Chisago County Sheriff's Office Foundation also set up the K-9 Kyro Memorial Fund.
"They're very, very grateful," Anklan said.
Deutschland Meats owner Martin Ziegler didn't think twice about opening his butcher shop in Lindstrom as a space to collect donations. Other businesses in North Branch and Chisago City volunteered to help, too.
"They all live around here and they make sure that everything is safe and that the public is taken care of around here," Ziegler said of the sheriff's deputies. "So if something happens like what happened yesterday, we will make sure that we take care of them."
There were a couple of boxes of clothes and blankets delivered by Tuesday afternoon, but Ziegler expects donations to "fill a whole room" by Christmas.
Rachel Molina said she and members of Trinity Lutheran Church sprung into action as soon as they learned of the tragedy. They donated handmade blankets, stitched by a group of women who worship there.
"The whole purpose of Christmas and coming together is, you know, it's the little things," Molina said. "It's coming together, it's being there for those who need it most."