Elementary wrestling assistant coach Matt Meloy, who owns the Sky’s The Limit Tree Service, saw his livelihood go up in smoke. Thankfully no one was injured and the house where his family sleeps and eats was untouched.

“I was working in the shop all morning, cutting and grinding and working on my tractor,” the 36-year-old Meloy recalled of that fateful day of the fire on Jan. 7.

“I had cleaned everything up, put my tools away and parked the truck in the garage,” Meloy added. “I ate some lunch and took a shower.”

Meloy had just come out of the shower when he noticed plumes of smoke coming from the garage.

Photo courtesy of MELOY FAMILY
Nothing remained after the garage fire destroyed the Meloy’s garage and its contents.

“I thought it was snow at first, but then I proceeded to look at it and realized what it was,” he said.

But by the time Meloy threw on some clothes and shoes and got to the garage door, the interior of the structure was unsalvageable.

“My first thought was to save the truck,” Meloy added. “When I ran out to the garage and grabbed the door handle, the door handle was really hot. I saw the lower panel of the garage door had melted. I just threw the door open.”

From his vantage point, Meloy didn’t see any flames; it was all smoke. It was so thick he couldn’t see his pickup truck in the garage. Within five to 10 minutes, flames started visibly shooting through the walls.

Unfortunately, the shop and its contents were a total loss.

“The items inside were years of hard work and saving, but in the end they were just things,” Meloy said. “Myself and my family thank God that our home was spared, and thank the first responders that risked their safety to get to our home in less than ideal conditions, to make sure our home and the mountain that we love so much were safe.”

With his truck, snow plow, spreader, tractor and all of his tree service gear lost in the fire, not to mention an entire shop worth of tools and equipment, Meloy is struggling to work to support his family.

Much of his snow plowing equipment that he typically uses during the winter months was also destroyed by the flames.

While an investigator believes it was an electric fire, it’s unlikely the family’s insurance will cover their losses.

“I think there might have been a stray spark that went under my shelving and festered,” said Meloy, speculating on the cause of the blaze. “Obviously, it was unintentional; it was something that I was doing in the morning. No person wants to be in that situation.”

Through the tragedy, Meloy and his family — which includes wife Sara and nine-year-old son Kasen — can see the silver lining.

“Only time will tell how all that works out, and we remain positive that the most important thing is that we have our home, this amazing community, and the absolute best friends and family we could ask for,” Meloy said.

Family members set up a GoFundMe page for the Meloy family to help them get back on track. Through Sunday, more than $6,100 had been raised.

“Those that know me know that I do not handle asking for things or for help well at all,” Meloy explained. “We have worked our entire lives for what we have, taking no handouts along the way. But I know that people do care and just want to help how they can. Honestly your prayers are enough, and we thank you so very much.”

Meloy said the support from the community — especially his wrestling family — has been overwhelming.

“Thank you to everyone for your messages, calls, offers of tools and saws and vehicles,” Meloy explained. “Thank you to those that just smile and offer a hug or pat on the back. Knowing so many of you are here in support is mind blowing. Thank you.

“We can’t say it enough: we are so thankful to this community that we are proud to be a part of,” Meloy added. “We are so very thankful for the emergency personnel that don’t think twice about coming to a stranger’s aid. We are forever grateful and forever indebted to all of you.”

And remaining forever Juniata strong, he said.

All to help out a man who has had such an impact on their lives.