Roger Wilson is now trying to get back on his feet after the fire
Credit: GoFundMe
NEED TO KNOW
- Roger Wilson lost his home of 30 years and several pets in a wildfire that burned over 34,000 acres
- Wilson, who is a legal guardian to an elderly woman, plans to rebuild and live on his property in a freight container
- His son launched a GoFundMe to help him recover, and Wilson expressed gratitude for his supportive community
A Texas man is now trying to rebuild after losing his home of 30 years to a wildfire.
When Roger Wilson first moved to his longtime property, he only had two neighbors, as he explained to KFDA and as reported by WLBT.
“There was nobody else, so you might almost say I was a homesteader to a certain degree,” he said.
Yet, the Hungate fire in Randall County, which burned an estimated 34,131 acres, per KFDA, destroyed nearly all of Wilson's home.
He also lost two dogs and four cats who died in the devastating blaze. One cat was thankfully found alive under a freight container and was checked out by a local veterinarian. His dog, Lavern, also survived.
Credit: GoFundMe
Wilson had no home insurance and is now trying to plan his next move. “I'm fixing to move out into a freight container that is still available. But I will live here on the property. It'll be a little rough, but it's okay,” he said.
The Texas resident is also a legal guardian to an 81-year-old woman named Donna Thoroughman after he and his late wife helped take her in. The woman had been evicted from a trailer park. She also has no other family to care for her.
“She has nobody except for me. So I'm her legal guardian," Wilson said. "And I'm trying to reestablish some kind of a home for her."
Wilson has encountered several losses before the fire. His first wife died of breast cancer, and his second wife, Mardee, died in a car accident in December 2025.
Because of this, he describes the fire as just a "flea bite" compared to the other tragedies.
“I know it looks devastating to everybody, but I lost my wife back in December. An accident just about five, six miles from here. So to me, I've already been through the worst. So this, to me, is just a flea bite,” he said.
“There's a lot more people that's going to need a lot more help than me. I'll do alright. People are good. They'll help,” Wilson added about his neighbors.
Wilson's son, Ross, and Ross' wife, Jules, have since launched a GoFundMe to help after the fire's damage.
"He is asking for anything that might help—whether it's helping hands, funds, or kind words. Every bit of support will make a difference as Roger works to rebuild his life and continue caring for Donna. Thank you for considering a donation or sharing this fundraiser. Your kindness and generosity mean the world to Roger and those he cares for," Ross wrote.
Wilson also expressed how "grateful" he's been for his community and for those who've helped him.
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He said, “I'm so grateful for the Texas Panhandle because I've been to a lot of different places. The Texas Panhandle and its people are pretty much awesome anywhere in the world."
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