Christmas Eve was far from what Kim Johnson had imagined.
Johnson, who lives just across the Moody County line near Garretson, lost her home, belongings, and pets in a devastating fire that burned everything to the ground.
Firefighters from Trent, Garretson, Dell Rapids, and Jasper responded to the blaze. One of the family’s dogs is being treated at All City Pet Care for severe smoke inhalation and remains on oxygen support.
Johnson and her family are praying for the dog’s recovery and counting their blessings that the fire started before bedtime, allowing everyone to escape safely.

“Noel and I are so overwhelmed with all the support from friends and family and so devastated at the loss of our home. Prayers to all who have reached out to offer the support we thank you. Our heads and hearts are trying to grasp what has all happened as of right now we are safe and our dog Festus pulls through,” Johnson wrote on social media on Christmas morning.
“Homes can be replaced, families cannot.”
Though not officially a Moody County resident, Johnson is a well-known member of the broader Moody County and Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal community. She has worked as a paralegal for the tribe for the past decade and is a familiar face in the local barrel racing circuit.
To support the Johnson family, locals Heidi Johnson and Jill Ellefson have launched an online benefit auction on Facebook titled Silent Auction Benefit for Kim Johnson. A GoFundMe campaign and Venmo links are also circulating on social media.
Johnson expressed gratitude for the assistance she has received so far.
“I am blessed to be working with an amazing insurance company that is helping me sort through all I need to do to begin to recover,” she said.
“The Jasper, Trent, Dell Rapids, and Garretson fire and emergency responders were on the scene shortly after I called. They did everything they could to save my house, but unfortunately, it was too far gone. A huge thank you to all of them for leaving their families to help mine. The outreach from friends, family, and even strangers has been overwhelming. My New Year’s 2025 motto is that we will literally rise from the ashes. It’s going to be a hard road for a while, but we will.”
In other fire-related news over the weekend, a trailer home in Egan was also a total loss after a fire. Flandreau Fire Chief Don Peters reported that while the trailer and its contents were destroyed, it had been abandoned, and no injuries were reported. The fire appears to have been caused by an electrical problem.