Three Ecuadorian Cooks Seek Community Support After Losing Belongings in Goleta House Fire

Three cooks living in Goleta are seeking community support to rebuild their lives after their home caught fire earlier this week. 

Said Coba, Jorge Jaramillo, and Johann Jadan, have launched a GoFundMe page seeking support to “rebuild the basics” needed for them to “keep working and living safely.”

The trio is aiming to raise $8,000. So far, they have raised $2,461, according to the GoFundMe page. 

Coba, Jaramillo, and Jadan said on their page that they arrived in California from Ecuador on a J-1 visa to pursue their shared dream of becoming chefs and had been living together in a house. 

Calling it the beginning of their journey, they said they have “grown, learned, and pushed” themselves this year. 

However, they said the loss due to the fire has been devastating. 

Coba, Jaramillo, and Jadan lost their important documents, electronics, work tools, clothing, groceries, gifts for their families, and personal belongings in a fire on December 1, 2025. 

Santa Barbara County firefighters responded to the fire at the 100 block of St. George Place and contained the blaze to two rooms, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. While there were no injuries, five residents were displaced. 

Firefighters continue to investigate the cause of the fire. 

The trio was not inside when the fire broke out and were safe, but their belongings were reduced to ash, they wrote on the page. 

“Losing everything material reminded us of what truly matters: the people we’ve met, the community that welcomed us, and the passion that brought us here,” according to their GoFundMe page. 

They will have to start “from zero in a foreign country,” far away from their families, they wrote.

Coba, Jaramillo, and Jadan shared a video of the charred remains of their home and belongings, and expressed gratitude to the firefighters for controlling the blaze and keeping them safe during the tragedy.

The video included footage of the firefighters trying to contain the fire and images of their shared memories at the house, including time spent with friends, and cooking together.  

The community’s support will help them rebuild the basics they need to continue working and work towards their dream that brought them to the country. 

The funds will be raised for the following purposes: 

• Emergency housing
• Replacing essential documents (passport fees, visa replacements, transportation to consulates)
• Work tools, such as chef knives, shoes, and thermometers
• Clothing and personal essentials
• Food and basic necessities
• Transportation costs for relocation
• Replacing electronics

“Any contribution, no matter the amount, will make a real difference,” they wrote on the page.