The Lemoore City Council issued a proclamation Tuesday recognizing the victims of the devastating July fire which killed an entire family and displaced six other families.

Derik Faubion and his fiancee, Michell Mattison, both 19, their 2-month-old daughter, Hayden Allison Faubion, and Mattison's step-siblings, Lexus May Bisnar, 4, and Ariel Nel Bisnar, 2, were laid to rest Friday.

The proclamation -- issued by Mayor John Murray to Fire Chief John Gibson -- reiterated the commitment of city leaders and residents to helping the fire's victims.

City leaders said they will discuss issues relating to the fire with fire officials in the near future.

"The community grieves," the proclamation read. "The people of the community want to reach out to the families of those affected by this inconceivable tragedy."

Around 1:30 a.m. July 28, a blaze broke out in the Northgate Apartments on Hazelwood Drive in Lemoore.

The flames destroyed nine units, displaced six families, and caused more than $1 million in damages.

Fire officials said the fire was so involved by the time firefighters arrived on scene, it was unsafe to enter the building, and firefighters did not attempt to rescue the five who died.

The fire started on the porch of the unit just below Mattison and Faubion's, investigators said.

At the council's regular meeting, City Manager Jeff Briltz said the council will meet with Lemoore city and Kings County fire officials, and discuss any changes to city policy and procedure with the public sometime in September.

City leaders are waiting for more complete reports from the investigation before making any changes, Briltz said, and will dissect the events surrounding the fire with investigators.

Gibson said the investigation could take several months, and that firefighters have still not pinpointed the exact cause of the fire.

"There was so much fire that it actually destroyed the evidence ... if there was any evidence," he said.

As well, they are awaiting complete toxicology reports, which Gibson said may be released as early as next week or as late as two months from now.

Meanwhile, the local community has teamed together.

The Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino covered all funeral expenses of the young family which perished in the fire at a total of $10,000, city officials confirmed.

Residents of the Hazelwood Apartments, next door to the Northgate, raised approximately $1,500 at a benefit barbecue they held Tuesday afternoon.

All enjoyed a bounce-house, face painting, and barbecue chicken.

Jake McDonald, 14, said his favorite attraction at the benefit was dunking his apartment managers and complex owner Mike Trebbow.

McDonald said he was happy the barbecue would help the fire victims because "my brother lost some friends in the fire."

Chris Savory of the Riverdale Association of God was all set to head to the coast for the day, but decided to help out at the benefit instead by dressing up as a clown and braving the dunking booth.

"I decided to stay because going to the coast wouldn't benefit anybody but myself," he said.

Helping others, Savory said, gives him deep satisfaction.

"That's the American way," he said. "That's what we were made to do."

If you would like to donate to the families affected by the fire, you can donate to the Lemoore Fire Relief account at the Stockmen's Bank.

Donations of items such as canned food and furniture can be dropped off at the Salvation Army in Hanford at 380 E. Ivy St.

The reporter can be reached at 582-0471, ext. 3062.

(Aug. 8, 2007)