Fundraiser started for father of 3 burned in explosive downtown Prosser fire
A father of three was seriously burned this week when he was caught in the explosive fire at the M & E Seed and Grain elevator in Prosser.
Abel Ruvalcaba, a millman, was working at the grain elevator when the fire started shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The fire burned through the night, destroying the mostly wooden 100-year-old building and an attached antique store.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Ruvalcaba and his wife who are expecting their fourth child.
“We would like to come together as a community to support the Ruvalcaba family by creating this account.” organizer Diana Ramirez wrote.. “During this time, he will be unable to provide for his family, and his wife will have to stay home to care for him, their children and soon newborn child.”
The campaign had raised nearly $11,000 by Sunday. You can donate by going to bit.ly/ProsserFireFundraiser
Witnesses described the fire in downtown Prosser as explosive, according to dispatch reports at the time.
The fireball lit up the area and sent a huge plume of smoke into the sky over the Lower Yakima Valley.
It remains unclear what ignited the blaze.
About 22 fire units from various agencies were called to the old feed store and grain elevator.
The building dates back to 1925 when it was built by the Murphy family of Prosser, said Alys Freepons Means, the director of the Prosser Historical Museum. It started as the ACM Feed Store and then became M & E Seed and Grain.
Means said the buildings were beloved landmarks in the city for generations.
This story was originally published May 27, 2022 at 12:56 PM.