Community members are remembering the man and family dog who died during the Almeda fire, who they said died while helping his neighbors in his Southern Oregon mobile home park.

“We don’t know exactly what happened after my mom left but we heard that he stayed behind to help people get out of the park, and that is something would have done,” Zachary Bulebar, Schmidt’s stepson said.

Bulebar explained Schmidt was at home with his mom and Schmidt’s wife, Lisa Bulebar Schmidt when the fire broke out on September 8, 2020.

He said he called his parents to inform them about the fire that began in Ashland and warned them to be prepared to evacuate.

“There was no warning or anything, but I knew things began burning in Talent, things were getting really serious and that is when my mom decided to leave,” Bulebar said.

He said Schmidt stayed behind and neighbors later told them that he helped them get out of the park safely.

After the flames were put out and residents could return to their homes, Bulebar said the family returned to look for Schmidt, but he was nowhere to be found.

He said they searched the Jackson County Expo, where an emergency center was set up for fire survivors and went to every local hospital hoping to find Schmidt.

Bulebar said days later, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office informed them that they had found Schmidt’s body inside the family’s mobile home with their family dog, Roxy.

“Don would have not let anyone stay behind in the park, he is a brave guy, he would have went back to help anybody out before helping himself,” he said.

On September 24, 2020, weeks after the fire was put out, the sheriff’s office released the names of the three people who died in the incident, including the 55-year-old veteran Schmidt.

Now, the Phoenix community is celebrating his and Roxy’s life by chalking art on the driveways, sidewalks and drawing inspirational messages and images.

Anyone who participates is asked to post them on social media and use the #Teresashappyhomes.