Volunteer firefighter continues to recover

A Noxon firefighter is recovering after being injured responding to an explosion near Noxon last week. According to Rachel Peterson, when first responders arrived on scene May 17, they had no idea several storage containers on the property were housing munitions and reloading supplies. During a second large explosion, volunteer firefighter Aaron Helmbrechts suffered extensive burns to his upper body. The Noxon Volunteer Ambulance was on site and was able to render aid. LifeFlight was called, and Helmbrechts was taken to Coeur d'Alene. Peterson said he was stabilized there, and flown to the Harborview Burn Unit in Seattle.

Peterson, a friend of the Helmbrechts family, organized a GoFundMe page to help one of Helmbrechts’ family members join him in Seattle for his recovery. “I know he is going to be spending quite a bit of time there, and he’s going to need help.” So far the GoFundMe has collected over $14,500. Peterson started the GoFundMe because she believed it would reach more people than other methods. “A lot of people donated who don’t know who Aaron is,” said Peterson.

Peterson added that many of the community members have wanted to reach out but may not have internet access or feel comfortable with donating through a website. For those who want to donate physically, they can address mail to the Helmbrechts family at Noxon, MT 59853. Since Peterson works at the post office, she says that she will make sure the mail gets into the Helmbrechts’ post office box. “It will give the family some comfort,” said Peterson, explaining that the funds will take some of the worry out of travel and lodging expenses.

“When it comes down to it, everybody turns out to help,” Peterson said about the local community. “That’s what I love about this area.” When Peterson spoke about Helmbrechts, she said, “He has been a volunteer firefighter since he graduated high school, and a junior firefighter while he was in school. It just shows who he is.”

The GoFundMe can be found under the name Aaron Helmbrechts Relief Fund.