OUT OF THE ASHES
Published in the Feb. 14, 2026 issue.
The morning after the Pack Fire tore through McGee Creek, displacing families, the Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce made a decision.
Rather than allow relief efforts to scatter across social media posts and disconnected fundraising campaigns, the Chamber activated the McGee Creek Pack Fire Relief Fund through its nonprofit arm, the Mammoth Community Foundation (MCF).
Within hours, a centralized webpage was live, creating a single hub where community members could donate money, offer resources, or find help.
“We saw right away that there were efforts popping up everywhere: meals, clothing, fundraisers, GoFundMes,” said Chamber President Brianna Goico. “We wanted one trusted place people could go, whether they were looking to give or looking for support.”
That early move proved critical, especially as county-led cleanup programs and related information are still in development (see last week’s coverage, p. 6).
Through coordinated outreach and social media, the Chamber quickly spread word that the Mammoth Community Foundation would serve as the financial intermediary for private-sector relief.
The effort resulted in $226,880 in direct donations and more than $11,000 in donated gift cards.
Nearly 5% of contributions came from out of state (from places as far as New York, Virginia, Massachusetts, Indiana, and Minnesota) but the effort was overwhelmingly local. Businesses hosted benefit nights and concerts. Mammoth Mountain Ski Area contributed a $50,000 matching gift through a joint community fundraising campaign. Ormat Technologies gave $10,000. MCF itself contributed $10,000.
In total, 24 families received just under $10,000 each in direct financial support.
Funds went to primary residents who occupied their homes at the time of the fire, whether renters or owners. Second homeowners were not eligible.
“We followed the model we used for the Round Fire,” Goico said. “It was an equal distribution. We didn’t look at [damage levels] or insurance status. If you lived there, you qualified.”
And with McGee Creek being such a small, tight-knit community, verification was straightforward.
“Pretty much someone in the room knew the person or knew their story,” Goico said. “And honestly, people were incredibly forthcoming.”
The fund launched Nov. 14. By late November, once it became clear the effort would raise a significant amount, MCF formed a seven-person distribution committee. The ultimate goal was to get money into people’s hands before the holidays.
The first round of checks and gift cards went out in mid-December 2025. A second distribution followed in mid-January 2026. And for many families, immediate financial relief made a tangible difference.
“The checks and gift cards were a life raft,” said Ray Turner. “The first few months after the fire were incredibly confusing. The support upfront made a real difference.”
For the first distribution, families were asked to come to the Chamber office in person to pick up their checks. At the time, many families were juggling displacement, insurance claims, winter housing, all while trying to live their normal lives.
“Being displaced by the Pack Fire felt like starting over at square one,” said Peter Clark, who moved to Mammoth 26 years ago. “The logistics were daunting. The Foundation’s support helped me get situated for winter so my kids could stay in school and I could keep working.”
For the Brode family, the response reaffirmed their sense of belonging.
“We have always loved this community and are so proud to be part of it,” they shared. “The love and support shown to us during this disaster has been unprecedented.”
Goico believes proximity played a significant role in the scale of giving. Because the Pack Fire directly affected members of Mammoth’s workforce and business community, the response surpassed what the Chamber saw during the Mountain View Fire in 2020 and the Round Fire in 2015.
“This was very much Mammoth’s community,” she said. “That connection mattered.”
The Pack Fire Relief Fund officially closed December 31, with final incoming donations processed in early January. At this time, no additional distributions are planned.
