A fund-raiser for a 92-year-old Carmacks elder and her 16-year-old granddaughter is being planned for next week after a fire destroyed their home last weekend.

The house burned to the ground Saturday evening, Carmacks volunteer Fire Chief Rob Cochrane said this morning.

The cause of the blaze is still being investigated, but Cochrane said he doesn't believe it is suspicious.

Neither elder May Roberts nor her granddaughter, Brittany, were home when the fire started.

Chief Eddie Skookum of the Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nation told the Star the popular elder was in Haines Junction and returned home to find everything destroyed.

"She's pretty devastated,” Skookum said earlier this afternoon.

"She's lost a lot of traditions and things she's collected, a lot of pictures and that's all gone now.”

The woman's van was also burned.

But her number one possession, her dog, Flash, was unharmed.

"She was really worried about him and he was just as worried about her,” Skookum said.

"He just about ran back into the house to make sure she was OK, but someone stopped him.”

Roberts is currently living in one of the First Nation's trailers.

She has already received donations from as far away as Haines Junction and Whitehorse.

Meanwhile, the community is already working to help the pair gather some new basic possessions.

The fund-raiser is being organized for Dec. 10 at the community's rec centre from 5 to 10 p.m.

"We're a small community, so we pull together when things like this happen,” Skookum said.

Organizers are hoping to hold a silent auction and have performers including musicians, dancers, drummers and singers to entertain the crowds.

A table will be set up to accept clothing, gift cards, money or other donations.

Skookum said chiefs from other First Nations have also expressed interest in coming to represent their communities.

Anyone interested in helping out at the event or contributing anything to the silent auction can contact Ragene Blackjack at 867-863-5789, Julie Anderson at 667-7870.

Additionally, messages can be left at 867-863-5831.