On Monday, a devastating fire destroyed a commercial fishing facility in Ilwaco, Washington, along with thousands of Dungeness crabpots belonging to Ilwaco’s fishing fleet. With just a week till the opening of the crabbing season, things looked bleak.

But a far-reaching and effective community response from other PNW fishermen, and the public, to gather gear and raise funds, may allow fishermen and their families to continue their work and retain their livelihoods. A great example this week of neighbors coming together in a crisis.