COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKRC) - After a nearly week-long wait, a Tri-State native's worst fears have been realized.
Word came over the weekend that Michael Reed's wife and two daughters died in the Gatlinburg wildfire. Reed graduated from Northwest high school but later moved to Tennessee.
Michael Reed is a 1995 graduate of Northwest High. Now one of his best buddies is rallying classmates to help one of their own. For days, Reed wondered and worried. When fire swept through Gatlinburg Reed and his son were unable to return to his home in the mountains. His wife, Constance, and two daughters, Chloe and Lily, were still home.
High school friend Matt Bruner kept in touch. Bruner said his friend hoped his wife and daughters made it out of the house and went further up the mountains to an area untouched by fire. He kept encouraging his buddy. But word came over the weekend that Reed's wife and daughters were confirmed dead.
Bruner and Reed played in the Northwest High School band and were in clubs together. Bruner has now enlisted the Northwest class of ‘95 to help their classmate during his time of need. He lost his wife and daughters as well as his home. The response was overwhelming.
At last check, a GoFundMe page had raised over $32,000. There is also a Fifth Third account and there were also plans to hold a fundraiser for Reed in the next few weeks.
