Name: Sister rallies support after Wisconsin restaurant fire displaces family
Uploaded: 2025-12-13T20:35:00.570Z
Duration: 2 min 22 s
Description: A fire that destroyed Bass Bay Brewhouse in Muskego also displaced the family living above the restaurant just weeks before the holidays. After the blaze, the owner’s sister launched a GoFundMe and mobilized community support to help her brother’s family rebuild their lives.

A fire that destroyed Bass Bay Brewhouse in Muskego also displaced the family living above the restaurant just weeks before the holidays. After the blaze, the owner’s sister launched a GoFundMe and mobilized community support to help her brother’s family rebuild their lives.

Muskego

A fire in Muskego, Wisconsin destroyed the Bass Bay Brewhouse, an event space, and an attached home, displacing the family who lived there. Firefighters and support crews responded early in the morning, but the cause of the fire remains unknown.

The family survived the incident but lost nearly all their possessions. In response, Kayla Vongpakti, the sister of the affected homeowner, quickly organized a GoFundMe campaign to help her brother's family recover, with community members stepping up to assist before the holidays.

Sister rallies support after Wisconsin restaurant fire displaces family

Continuing coverage, the Waukesha County community devastated after an early morning fire destroyed Bass Bay Brewhouse, a popular restaurant in Muskego. An event space and house also lost to the flames. Firefighters were called around 6 this morning because of the weather conditions. Support from other communities were also called in. As of now, it's not clear what caused the fire. A home was also attached to that restaurant. Thankfully, the family living there survived, but they lost nearly everything. Our Mike Biermeister sat down with Kayla, who is doing everything she can to help her brother and his family rebuild. As flames ripped through Bass Bay Brewhouse in Muskego, the restaurant along with the home that was attached were consumed by the fire. And for Kayla Vongpakti, it hit closer than anyone could imagine. My brother, he's my best friend. I would go to the ends of the earth to make sure that he's okay and that he's well taken care of. She dropped everything and rushed to the fire. As I got to Woods, there were officers already there. And I basically just told them I'm here to make sure that my brother's okay and I'm here to get my nieces. Her only thought, to find her brother A.J. Vanhoff, his wife Melissa, their two young daughters Blair and Bodie, and Melissa's mom Lori. I cried. I cried so hard and I just really just wanted to hear my brother's voice. Thankfully, they all survived, but lost nearly everything. For Kayla, this isn't just a restaurant fire. It's about helping her brother and his family have a place to call home again. And tonight, she's turning that heartbreak into action. Within hours, Kayla launched a GoFundMe to help her brother's family rebuild. And she tells me others are also stepping up just before the holidays. They're a newer family and just supporting his family and really trying to navigate after this event. I knew that it was going to be a little difficult, so I wanted to kind of give him a head start. Kayla calls her family a mighty force, one that won't be broken by the fire. When one of us is not in the best situation, we all get together and we make things happen. Walls can be rebuilt. What matters most is that this family still stands together. In Muskego, Mike Biermeister, TMJ4 News.

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