Mama's Pros and Steel had a fire and Jess needs our help

Many of you know Jess of Mama’s Pro’s and Steel – he does a lot of paneling at our cons and is also a vendor.
I know many of you are friends of his as well….

Jay Pearson has posted the following information:

From: Jay Pearson [mailto:jlpearson@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2008 8:58 PM
For those who do not know Jess’s shop burned this morning. Here are some particulars straight from the horse’s mouth so to speak.

The fire occurred between 2:30 and 5 this morning, engines from both the reservation and Marysville quickly responded and after a 2+ hour battle got the fire under control and out. Preliminary investigation has labeled it “as undetermined cause of the fire”, there is some speculation that it may have been arson but nothing solid enough for the investigator to label it as such with out further proof. Damage to the shop is total, some fire damage to the House and extensive heat damage to the parked vehicles near the shop. As the article states there was no loss of life which Jess is very thankful for. However this right on the tale end of his loosing Sue (not more than 8 weeks ago) has been quite a blow to him.

I just spent about 3 hours talking with him and finding out what his plans are. He intends to rebuild the shop on the back of the property. He will need help though and at my request he has given me a list of items he will need eventually to rebuild his shop and get back to full on sword making. I will pass this list on to those that email me as it is quite extensive for this post. He still has tentative plans to attend Crown, but with what little stock he has left that was not destroyed in the fire his focus is getting what little of the shop remains up and running as soon as possible. Currently they do not have a phone, power or water at the ranch as the fire destroyed the entire power pole which housed not only the main power box for the property but the meter as well. They are waiting on PUD to tell them what type of box is needed for them to regain power and water (pump house was wired directly to the pole), until such time as this occurs they are doing OK. There is propane to run the heat and stove.

Please pass this on to any whom you believe could help either in supplies to rebuild the shop or tools to outfit it. As I know more I will pass it on to you all.

Jay

To this I want to add that I suggested an account be set up to help replace all the tools and such. I had asked about insurance and was told that the thought is that insurance will not cover the shop or the tools. So, Jay set up an account –

From Jay:
Have set up an account with Wa Mu for Jess it is 3154960386 any Wa Mu will take a deposit for this account. It is only up for 6 months so there are no taxes that can be slapped against it hurting Jess. If they do not have the account number handy they can walk in and verbally tell them it is for Jess Roe.

Jay

Please forward this along to all trying to help.

Here is also a list of the tools that need replacing if anyone has anything they want to donate contact Jay at jlpearson@comcast.net – he can facilitate the giving with you.

Define Hand tools as everything used for leather working wood working and metal working from rough out to super fine grade.
His entire stockpile of wood stock is a pile of fine ash ( I walked through it this afternoon)
Here is the thumbnail list of items he needs for the shop

Ban Saw Wood (Medium size)
Ban Saw Metal (Medium size)
Table Saw
Compound Miter Saw
Planer (Up to 18 inch)
Jointer (6 inch)
Bench Grinders (Dual wheel both 4 inch and 6 inch)
Bench Polishers (Dual wheel 5 and 8 inch)
Bench spindle sander
Bench Router/ Table and bits
Hand Belt Sanders
Palm sanders
Hand tools (Leather, wood,metal)
Leather Work shop (COMPLETE)
Hand grinders ( 41/2 inch 7 inch 9 inch)
Oxy/Acetylene Welder rig (complete)
Trip Hammer
Propane Forge (complete)
Saw-Z-All electric
Bench or stand alone Drill press and all bits to go with it
Complete lumber for a new shop