They want to stay on the highest-lying farm; hope remains after fire

The Bukovnik farm, situated at the highest altitude in the Solčava municipality of Slovenia, was ravaged by a fire caused by a lightning strike on June 22. The blaze completely destroyed all farm buildings, including the barn, workshop, and garage, along with all the livestock and machinery housed within. The main residential house sustained such severe damage that it is now uninhabitable.

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The young family decided to take over the farm two months ago. It is right that they come home and continue this story. It is our duty not to let them lose their dreams and hope of living on such a remote farm, but to ensure their new beginning.

While the father and son, who recently took over the farm on May 1st, survived the initial onslaught of the fire, they sustained injuries. The father remains hospitalized, and the residential house is no longer safe for living. The family has been temporarily relocated, with the mother and children staying with a cousin. The smell of smoke still lingers over the area more than a week after the fire.

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If I was only hoping for the first two days, then after the response from donors, I am convinced that we will build the farm.

Initial damage estimates from the Celje Police Administration placed the loss at around half a million euros. However, the mayor of Solčava, Katarina Prelesnik, revised this figure significantly upward to approximately two million euros, noting that many older, uninsured, and unrecorded machines were lost in the fire. This extensive damage highlights the immense challenge the family faces in rebuilding.

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We hope that they will come true. Help is coming from all sides: legal assistance, expert, psychological. In short, that we are not alone.

Despite the catastrophic loss, a wave of solidarity from the local community and beyond has provided a glimmer of hope. The mayor emphasized the importance of supporting the young family's dream of continuing life on the remote farm. Numerous donations, legal aid, and psychological support are pouring in, demonstrating a strong collective will to help the family rebuild. Even Prime Minister Janez Janša visited the site. The outpouring of support suggests that the Bukovnik farm may indeed rise again.

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People are really connected here and help each other. Neighbors and the local community. The mayor of Solčava was here at dawn, she even cheered the children up a little in the morning because they were upset. Even the mayor of Črna na Koroškem, the whole of Slovenia has responded.