On July 17, 2025, the house of 2025 Manual graduate Jane Fishback caught fire due to a thunderstorm. No one was home, but it left their house severely damaged and the family, one which has endlessly supported Manual and its community, devastated.
A lightning strike caused an electrical surge in the room of Jane Fishback’s younger brothers, Teddy and Gibs Fishback, lighting a computer on fire. Their room got the worst of a fire that damaged the whole house, causing the Fishbacks move out. In the meantime, the family will rent a place to stay near Ballard High School, where Teddy and Gibs Fishback will study as freshmen this fall.
The Fishback family was active in the Manual community when Jane Fishback was a student. She played on Manual’s field hockey team, and was also a skilled painter and sculptor in the VA magnet. Her mother, Jenny Fishback, served on enVision, the VA magnet’s parent association, for four years.
“[Jenny Fishback] was a constant support system and went out of her way to make sure our VA students had everything they needed,” Emily Forrester (Visual Arts) said.
Teddy and Gibs Fishback lost everything that they did not bring with them to the summer camp they were attending at the time of the fire. Jane Fishback lost all of the items she had planned to bring to college, though donations have replaced most of those. Insurance will cover what the boys lost, but the family would greatly appreciate donations, such as clothing, furniture, books and so on. Insurance will not cover food, so gift cards to grocery stores and restaurants are appreciated as well.
There are many ways you can contribute to the Fishback family in their time of need. All donations can go to Christ Church United Methodist—4616 Brownsboro Road. They can also go to Manual, where administrators have promised they’ll be delivered in short order. For a cash donation, you can send money to Jenny Fishback’s Venmo account, @Jenny-fishback (9601). Gift cards can also be emailed to [email protected]. For updates on the family’s situation, check Jenny Rosenthal Fishback’s Facebook page.
The Fishbacks would also like everyone to take the time to learn more about fire safety and to make sure their smoke alarms are functioning properly. If there are any specific questions regarding how one can assist the Fishbacks, contact Forrester at [email protected].
