Community helps Great Falls couple after house fires before wedding

GREAT FALLS — In the final days before what was supposed to be the most joyous occasion of their lives, Emily Burns and Garrison Smith faced an unexpected and devastating obstacle: a fire ravaged their home, just a week before their marriage.

Despite the tragedy, the couple found comfort and support through the immense generosity of their community.

A tragic turn of events

The engaged couple had spent a year meticulously planning their wedding, a time marked by excitement and anticipation. However, their preparations were abruptly interrupted when a fire broke out in their house.

Emily recounts the incident with a mixture of grief and relief:

“You know, being engaged is one of the most exciting things for anyone, I think. And to spend a year planning and collecting and getting excited about getting married, and then seeing it catch on fire, it's very …it's tragic. But most importantly my family is fine I believe the garage is a total loss We have a lot of smoke damage in the house. the next few months, so here we are. Until then, I'll be in a hotel.

Great Falls firefighters said the fire was caused by an unattended electric smoker next to the garage.

A quick response saves the day

The fire, which started in the garage, could have caused even greater damage without the quick intervention of the Great Falls Fire Department.

Garrison expressed gratitude for their quick response: “Probably the only reason it was limited to the garage and that outdoor area was the quick response of the fire department to absolutely go in and save everything else in the house.”

Community support pours in

In the aftermath of the fire, the couple faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives and saving their wedding plans. Surprisingly, they didn't have to face this situation alone. The response from the community has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Emily explained how the support lifted their spirits during this difficult time:

“I've probably gotten over 60 messages from brides all over Montana offering decorations. My sister started a GoFundMe. People have been sending me Venmo's. The community has been just amazing. Tracy's Diner and Jammer's Barbecue are covering on our wedding day, Clark and Lewie's, Enbar and Fire Pizza are also giving us food for the rehearsal dinner.

Hope amidst the ashes

Despite the fire, Emily and Garrison remain optimistic about their future. They even found a way to bring humor into their situation.

Reflecting on the incident, Emily mentioned the nickname given to the little wooden bear who greeted people at their door:

“What was his name? We called him Link. Yeah. Now he's Smokey the Bear. I think we're… Yeah, I think we'll put a new welcome sign up for him. “

Garrison added that they are now focused on the long recovery process and looking forward to their wedding:

“Now you just have to take the time to sort it out and it’s a process just to get there, really.”

If you would like to help, click here to visit the GoFundMe page.