A fire that heavily damaged a townhouse in Eden Prairie on Tuesday, May 6, displaced a couple and claimed the life of their dog. Their granddaughter is now seeking community support through a GoFundMe campaign.
Kaelan McGeough, who lives in Rochester, started the fundraiser after the fire destroyed the home of her grandparents, June and Russ Nelson. The townhouse is on Edenvale Boulevard near Hallmark Drive, across from Edgewood Park, in a neighborhood just off Cedar Point Road.
Neither occupant was home when the fire broke out. Russ had gone to the grocery store, and June was at work.
“Their dog, Coby, unfortunately died,” McGeough said. “They’re safe. They’re staying with us for a couple of days.”
Coby was 10, a Yorkie-terrier mix who, according to McGeough, was known for bringing toys to greet visitors and had a fondness for Arby’s roast beef sandwiches.
Firefighters arrived at 1:49 p.m. to find the Edenvale Boulevard townhouse fully engulfed in flames. They extinguished the fire, but the damage was extensive and may have rendered nearby units unlivable, according to the Eden Prairie Fire Department. The cause is still under investigation.
McGeough said her grandparents moved into the townhouse in 2019.
“It’s going to take anywhere from six months to a year before it’s even able to get repaired,” she said. “We’re kind of just taking it one day at a time.”
The GoFundMe campaign has a goal of $2,500 to help the Nelsons recover. Launched early Wednesday, it had raised $539 as of midafternoon.
To view or contribute to the fundraiser, visit the GoFundMe page.
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