New Year's fire destroys Rocky Boy home

Dwight Sunchild and his family are in need of help after their house caught fire New Year's Day.

The fire at the residence in Prairie View Village on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation near Box Elder was caused by three space heaters used to thaw frozen pipes. The heaters were left turned on and unattended in the master bedroom.

Nobody was hurt, Sunchild said.

"I thank God that my family got out safely," he said.

Sunchild said that he, his girlfriend, LaRae Ameline, and three children, who lived in the house, were in the living room when they noticed smoke rising from beneath the door and into the hallway at about noon Monday.

Sunchild and his family then called the police from a neighbor's house.

Calvin Jilot, a Chippewa Cree Business Committee member and fire chief with the Rocky Boy Volunteer Fire Department later said that seven volunteers responded to the fire.

The family, he said, is now staying with his girlfriend's mother.

He said everything he and his family owned was in the house.

He added Tuesday that he had not had the chance to go into the house to see what can be salvaged.

People have contacted him on Facebook to offer donations which have included a box of meat and bags of clothes for his daughters Kylene, 8, and Arissa, 5, he said.

The family still needs items such as size five diapers for Sunchild's 1-year-old son, Destyn, and clothes for him, his girlfriend and Destyn.

Because he does not have a vehicle, Sunchild said, he also will need someone to give him a ride to pick up the donated items.

Sunchild said donations can be dropped off at the Rocky Boy Police station. People can also reach him on Facebook or by calling him on his cellphone at 406-879-6999.