Minnesota-based organization watches as Woolsey Fire destroys campground

MALIBU, CA (KMSP) - One Heartland's camp for LGBTQ and homeless teens in Minnesota had to be canceled and re-scheduled because of a flood a few years ago.

Now a campground the organization has called home for nearly a quarter of a century in California has been destroyed by wildfires.

"The restaurants we eat at, the stores we go to, they're all gone and things are still burning,” said Patrick Kindler, executive director of One Heartland.

Workers at One Heartland have been watching the Woolsey Fire wreak havoc in Southern California  since it began, but over the weekend the damage hit unexpectedly close to home.

"When the fire started, in my head, I never thought it would get that big, but the winds aren't dying down and it’s devastating,” Kindler said.

For the last 24 years, One Heartland has sent about 80 teens from all over the country including Minnesota to a campground in Malibu for a program called Camp Hollywood Heart.

The week-long camp teaches young people with HIV and AIDS everything from the culinary arts to film shooting and editing and other fine arts.

"It's just creating a safe space where they can come, meet others who are dealing with the same things so there's a sense of normalcy for a week for them,” said Kindler of the camp’s purpose.

Sunday night, One Heartland learned the campground has been destroyed by wildfires.

87 of its 97 buildings were burned to the ground, but luckily, 200 campers as well as staff who live on the grounds were safely evacuated.

"We're having a hard time grasping what it’s going to look like this summer,” Kindler added.

One Heartland says the campground does have insurance so it will eventually be rebuilt. In the meantime, Camp Hollywood Heart will look for a new place to call home.

"It isn't the space. It’s a nice added bonus to overlook the ocean so we'll have camp this year. We'll all have an amazing time and we'll hope and pray the camp is rebuilt soon and we'll be excited to go back, when we can go back,” said Kindler.

One Heartland says it did lose about $10,000 worth of equipment in the fire that isn't covered by insurance.

Thursday, they are raising money to replace it during Give to the Max Day.