When July 3 fire consumed Barbara Ricci’s home in Heather Glen Estates in Applegate, she got out of the house with the clothes she had on and her dog Sasha.

That’s all she has left.

Thanks to some help from some caring neighbors and members of the Applegate community, there will be a barbecue from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Applegate Park, in order to raise money for Ricci. The benefit menu entices with tri-tip sandwiches, along with the customary hamburgers and hotdogs, homemade salads, baked beans and brownies. There will be iced tea, lemonade and apple cider to drink. Prices will be on a donation basis.

A silent auction, raffle prizes from $1 tickets, entertainment and a bounce house for children are all part of the festivities with all of the proceeds going to The Barbara Ricci Fund.

“Anything we make is going directly to Barbara,” said neighbor Carol Terrell.

On the day of the fire, Terrell called Max Bailey, president of the Heather Glen Community Services District. Bailey, who has another full-time job, went to work immediately to organize the barbecue. He received instrumental help from Terrell and Applegate resident Lynda Healy.

“I’m surprised you got this together so fast,” Ricci told Terrell about Saturday’s fundraiser.

Before the fire, Ricci lived alone with Sasha. She is retired after working at Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital for 20 years in the environmental services department.

The exact cause of the mobile home fire has not been determined. The Placer Hills Fire Department was on the scene within 10 minutes after it was called. Ricci said it might have been an electrical wiring problem, because the fire started in the area behind the stove.

“I heard a pop in the kitchen and flames were shooting out,” Ricci said. “I didn’t know what to do, so I called 911. I got the hose and started wetting down the shrubbery. I knew I couldn’t do anything with the house.”

Neighbor Terrell, who lives just a couple of houses away, heard trucks going by and realized something was happening.

“I looked and saw flames shooting,” Terrell said. “I said, ‘oh my God.’ It was frightening. She just got out with the clothes on her back and her dog.”

Ricci, a resident of Applegate for 19 years, is currently staying with her son Robert Ricci in Weimar. He is the only family Ricci has in the area, she said.

The Journal’s Bruce Warren can be reached at brucew@goldcountrymedia.com, or comment at AuburnJournal.com.

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Benefit Fundraiser Barbecue

When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, free admission.

Where: Applegate Park

What: Silent auction, raffle prizes from $1 tickets and entertainment.

Menu: Tri-tip sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs,

homemade salads, baked beans, brownies, iced tea,

lemonade, apple cider. (Prices on a donation basis)