Firsthand Account of the California Wildfires

While I’ve lived through a tornado and a series of riots, I’ve never lived through a wildfire.   The California Camp Fire devastated more than 146,000 ACRES.  Heather Cleek, one of the readers here, lives just 15 miles from Paradise California and has a firsthand account of the fire to share with us today.

The day dawned like any other.

The sunrise on November 8th brightly illuminated our foothills.  I remember thinking to myself how blessed we were to see such beauty on a cold, autumn day.  Within an hour, I had a phone call from my dad about the thick plume of black smoke coming from “the ridge,” our local nickname for the Paradise area, about 30 miles away on the eastern side of the Sacramento Valley.  I didn’t really think too much about it as I was bustling around, getting ready for homeschooling our four kids and then a birthday lunch afterward for my husband. However, when my mother-in-law called, also inquiring about the smoke, we pushed pause on our day and ran outside to investigate.  

What we saw was absolutely terrifying.  

The clear blue sky I had enjoyed earlier was rapidly disappearing as huge, angry clouds of blackness raced toward us.  In mere minutes, we were enveloped in darkness; hues of orange and red reflected off the clouds as the sun tried to force its way through.  The kids, my husband, and I alternated between staring at the sky and racing back to the house to check the news. It wasn’t long before word got out that the foothills were burning.  

We didn’t realize how many people would be affected.

News of the fire saddened us, but as we were unaware of the extent of the crisis, we eventually went back inside, finished school, and met my parents for lunch.  I was horrified to learn later that while I was calmly eating my Italian chicken, people were literally running for their lives only a few miles away.

As it turned out, it wasn’t merely the foothills that were burning; entire towns were engulfed in flames.  Homes, businesses, hospitals, schools – all were being destroyed with a vengeance. Frantic school teachers were piling as many children into their cars as possible before descending the mountain to safety. A nurse laid a squalling newborn in its father’s arms, cut the umbilical cord, and urged him to flee while the mother was sewn up from a c-section.  Soft top Jeeps, windshield wipers, and tires caught fire as drivers lost control of their vehicles.

In a word, bedlam.  Absolute bedlam.

Lessons we learned.  

Our house is surrounded by heavily irrigated farmland.  So while we’re not impervious to fires, we are somewhat more protected.  In a way, this has lulled us into a false sense of security. We have taken active steps to fortify our home with food and protection, but haven’t put a lot of thought into the scenario of being forced to leave.  

Paradise changed that. Perhaps good can come out of this tragedy if we can learn from it. Questions that have been mulling around in my head include: What is my escape route? And if that’s not available, what’s a second and third option?  Does my car always have at least half a tank of gas? Is our camping equipment easily accessible if we need to run with it to safety? Can we comfortably camp in cold weather if our house is gone? Is there any part of our food storage that’s portable and can be quickly thrown in the car?  What will we do for cash if our bank burns? Is our house insured against natural disasters of this sort? Where can we acquire masks to protect ourselves against the toxic air quality? Can we safely and quickly gather our pets and their food? How will we communicate with each other if separated?

How should we proceed?

The Camp Fire is the most destructive fire in California history.  In the blink of an eye, a once thriving community has been reduced to ashes.  Thousands are homeless now. The lucky ones are staying with family or friends.  Others are living in the local fairgrounds or in tents set up in parking lots. Many have lost their lives or are still missing.  It’s been a time of great grief, but also rallying together as a community and learning to serve one another sacrificially. It’s also a time of learning to prepare for a disaster before the flames are licking your roof.  The time to begin is now when the sky is clear and blue!

What About You?

Have you ever lived through a wildfire experience?  Do you have any advice to share on the subject?  We’d love to hear.  Share your experiences with us in the comments section below so that we can all learn how to better prepare.

Together lets Love, Learn, Practice, Overcome

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