Piute County community rallies around deputy after fire burns through his home

MARYSVALE, Piute County — For more than two decades, Piute County sheriff's deputy Mike Gayler has answered calls for help, serving his community through emergencies, including helping evacuate residents during the recent Cottonwood Fire.

Now, the community is returning the favor.

Gayler and his wife, Jenna, lost their Marysvale home in a fire Tuesday.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Piute County Sheriff Marty Gleave said Gayler was away from home helping others when he learned his own house was on fire.

"He is always helping others. That's who he is. He is the kind of man who would help you in any way he can," said Gleave.

The loss has prompted an outpouring of support from across the community.

A community bingo event already scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at the community center will now include a large raffle to help the Gayler family as they begin to recover.

Mary Pratz, owner of the Marysvale Motel 4-U and organizer of the raffle, said the news has been especially difficult for people who know how much Gayler has done for others.

"Oh my word, I know he's been helping out with the fire so much on the mountain and then down low helping, and then this to happen to their family is not anything that they needed or any of us. Our hearts are broken for them," said Pratz.

Gleave said Gayler has served with the Piute County Sheriff's Office for more than 20 years, spending much of that time helping protect the people of Piute County.

Now, he said, it's Gayler who could use the community's support.

According to the Piute County Sheriff's Office, people who would like to help the Gayler family can make donations through fundraising efforts organized by the community at the State Bank of Southern Utah, set up in the name of "Mike and Jenna Gayler Donation Account," as well as to Jenna Gayler's personal Venmo account @jengayler04.

*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

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