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In 2021, the Derrough family lost their Menlo Park home to a house fire — losing all of their belongings and left without a place to live. The family struggled to recover from the effects of the fire for years, but the life-changing experience has also inspired the young people in the family to use their lived experiences to support other fire victims across California.
Menlo Park natives Katie Derrough, 24, and Alexander Derrough, 17, started the Derrough Foundation in 2023 to raise money to support other families who have experienced the effects of a home fire. For their first foundation event, the Derroughs are hosting a 5K at the Bedwell Bayfront Park.
“It’s a very unique experience,” said Alexander Derrough, who was the only one home when the fire sparked. “It’s just so unexpected; you can’t prepare for those types of things.”
When he was 12 years old, he was playing basketball outside of his house when he started to see smoke and soon noticed flames. He recalls running into the house to rescue his dogs and calling 911. His sister was attending college at the University of Michigan when she saw her house burn down over a video call with her brother.
In a matter of minutes, the Derrough family lost all of their belongings. Without clothes, food, medication and shelter, the family struggled with finding proper resources, figuring out where to go and what to do, said Katie Derrough.
According to a Menlo Park Fire Protection District report, the fire started around the swimming pool and hot tub mechanical and electrical equipment, causing a blaze that spread to the house. The total damage was estimated at more than $150,000.
By November 2023, the Derroughs were able to move back into their home — rebuilt two years after the fire. From this experience, Katie Derrough was inspired to start the Derrough Foundation as a way to find positivity in a situation that felt like an extreme loss. She invited her brother to join her as a cofounder.
“I felt like focusing on giving back to people in this extremely vulnerable position was just so important because we knew how you just have nothing, you have no idea what to do,” said Katie. “You’re in a completely traumatic state and in a state of loss.”
After the fire, neighbors welcomed them into their homes to stay for a few nights before they moved into a hotel and later into an apartment.
Although the Derrough family were able to return to some level of normalcy, the siblings explained that even four years later, they are still struggling with insurance claims and financial burdens. Since the fire, Katie has been helping her family take inventory of all lost and damaged items and submitting claims for reimbursement — an ongoing process.
“[When we lost our home,] I had just turned 20, so I was still trying to find myself, and I felt like I had to take a different role in my family of trying to help my parents and be there for them, advocating for them with our insurance company, trying to help them out in any way that I could logistically,” she said.
Both siblings described the loss of their home as life-changing, pushing them to mature.
“I think it made me a much better person, because it gave me a whole new perspective,” said Alexander Derrough. “When a material object is gone I don’t really stress over it anymore because material things are always replaceable, but human life isn’t.”
As a family that has lived through a home fire, the Derrough siblings felt that starting a nonprofit would be a positive way for them to move forward in their own journey by giving back to other fire victims.
The Derrough Foundation has already raised about $5,000 through donations and 5K signups. These funds will be distributed to the California Fire Foundation and California Community Foundation to financially support families affected by house fires with funds to buy groceries, clothes and other necessities.
“California in general is very prone to wildfires, but as we see climate change trending upwards, the Bay Area is more at risk than it ever has been,” said Katie Derrough. “I feel like we’re especially close to those issues and I just wanted to give back to the California fire community and fire victim community in general.”
The foundation is currently being sponsored by local Menlo Park businesses including Bob’s Country Corner, Avanti’s Pizza, Dana Carmel Group, Fleet Feet and SERVPRO in Palo Alto, which is a restoration and cleaning company.
The Derrough Foundation’s first 5K event is focused on fire recovery and awareness, inviting people of all ages to participate. The event on Saturday, Sept. 27, will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Bedwell Bayfront Park, 1600 Marsh Road in Menlo Park. Registrations are open until Sept. 26 at 11:59 p.m.
For more information visit derroughfoundation.org.
