DANVILLE, CA — San Ramon Valley High School teacher Jennie Drummond's life was upended Wednesday when she was pulled from class and told her house was on fire.

The art instructor jumped into her car, along with her service dog, Shadow, and headed home to Benicia — especially to check on Chance, a pup she was dog-sitting.

As the fire broke out on Military East in Benicia, one of her neighbors broke down her door and safely rescued Chance. But the blaze was so fast and furious, Drummond's townhouse was destroyed, and everything she owned was gone — including childhood trinkets, art projects and family photos, according to an online post.

Now her community supporters —friends, school staff and students — are stepping up to aid Drummond with an online fundraiser.

"We want to help Jennie have the means to quickly shop for everyday items she needs for herself and Shadow, and have a down payment for a rental if needed," the GoFundMe organizer said. "Jennie is an SRV alumnus, the current art teacher at SRVHS, and needs our communities' love and support."

To date, the effort has raised more than $43,000 — community generosity that left Drummond "blown away."

"I truly am at a loss for words. Shadow and I have lost everything tangible that was in our home," she said. "My baby blanket and Simba stuffie, letters and family photos, all of the art and crochet I've made ... It's all gone. I feel lost."

"On Wednesday during sixth period, I was pulled out of my class and told that my home was on fire, and I was relieved for the day," she said. "I loaded Shadow, my service dog, up into the car and we drove home. When we arrived, my townhome and the next door neighbor's were completely gone. The other two in our row suffered smoke and fire damage, as well. It was hours before we had any information because everyone was fighting the fire."

No injuries were reported in the two-alarm blaze on Military East, the Benicia Fire Department said, adding that firefighting support included Vallejo and Fairfield fire crews.

Drummond said that fire officials estimated the blaze broke out between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m., and while the exact cause is undetermined, arson likely was ruled out.

"The last person I spoke with said they thought that, with the extreme heat, something happened either in or just right near a propane tank, lighter fluid, wood stain ... something like that that led to a quick spreading and destructive fire," she wrote on the fundraiser site.

Former students of Drummond expressed their sentiments with heart-touching messages:

"I can't explain how much you've helped me. You were there helping me make it through school," one student wrote. "You helped me get a job at the zoo. You listened to my issues. What you have done will always stick with me in my heart. I am devastated this has happened to you, when I found out I was in disbelief out of anyone it would be you to suffer from something like this."

Another said: "Ms. Drummond helped me with art throughout all my years of high school and has been ever so incredible to deal with a person like me all those years. Even through my last year of art, when I felt so unmotivated to do art during quarantine, Jennie still made Zoom classes a time to be alive. She has influenced my creativity like no other and I thank her dearly for that. I hope this money can help Jennie in any way for both her, Shadow, and her other family members."

For information on the Drummond GoFundMe campaign, along with photos of Shadow and Chance, follow this link.

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