NEW HOPE, Minn — A fire that gutted a garage in New Hope early Saturday destroyed a vehicle that is much more than four wheels used to get from Point A to Point B.
Fire crews were dispatched to the Jacobson home on the 4800 block of Utah Ave. N. after a DoorDash driver spotted flames jumping from the detached garage around 3:45 a.m. and called 911. By the time West Metro crews arrived and evacuated the family from their home, the garage was consumed and the fire had spread to a nearby shed.
"It's such a shock, and it makes you sick thinking about it, you know?" Nikki Jacobson said.
Fortunately, the home was spared but something essential was lost.
The garage housed a wheelchair-accessible van that the Jacobsons needed to get their son, Lucas, to and from medical appointments, frequent family gatherings and social opportunities. The van, like the garage, was charred almost beyond recognition, leaving Lucas unable to maintain an important routine.
"It's a lifeline for us," Lucas said. "The van is a lifeline for us."
Also lost were tools that are essential for family patriarch John Jacobson, who is a tech education teacher, to do his job.
Family friends have started a GoFundMe account for the Jacobsons, trying to raise funds to replace the van and other items that were lost.
"Nikki, John, and the kids put so much love and kindness out into the world, we'd love to see it returned to them in their time of need," said organizers Carla K and Carrie D in the GoFundMe post.
"Comforting to know that you have so many people that care about you," Lucas added.
As of Tuesday evening, the fund had amassed more than $22,000 of a $25,000 goal.
If you'd like to contribute, click here.
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