Camp Fire Evacuee - Jim Porter in Paradise, CA
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I didn’t think it would ever happen, but it did. I'm 72-year-old and homeless. I lost everything I had in the devastating Paradise, CA. CAMP FIRE. My name is Jim Porter. 20-days before the fire I moved from the island of Puerto Rico to Paradise, CA. (I wanted to be closer to my daughter and her family.)
Currently I am staying with two of my nieces in Reno, Nevada area (Sparks) and traveling back and fourth to Chico as needed to do what is required for assistance from FEMA and the SBA. The drive from Reno to Chico is a little over three hours and goes over the Donner Pass. It's a beautiful drive, but lately the weather (snow) was made it difficult to drive.
On October 20, 2018, I moved into my new apartment in Paradise CA. Paradise "was" a beautiful quiet little town located in the foothills of the western Sierra Nevada foothills, with a population of about 26,000.
On Nov. 8, at 6:30 in the morning, 10 miles away from Paradise, the Camp Fire started. With winds of up to 50 mph, by 11 AM, the fire had encircled the town of Paradise and by noon, the entire town had been engulfed with flames.
At about 9:30 that morning, my daughter (Autumn) called and asked me to go to their home to get Simon (my grandson). By that time, the evacuation traffic was so bad and congested, I couldn't even get out of my driveway. Thank God, the people who lived next to my daughter got Simon out of the house and took him to safety with them. A short time later, Autumn called again to tell me Simon was safe.
At 10:30, when I evacuated, I had only the cloths on my back and a change of clothes I was able to grab. By 11:00 the sky was as dark and black as midnight.
The fire spread so rapidly that firefighters stopped attempting to control the flames, and instead sought to help people get out alive.
Because I had just moved, I did not have renter’s insurance and my apartment building burned to the ground.
(Before the Fire)
(After the Fire)
All of my personal belongs were destroyed by the fire. I lost cherished items inherited from my mother, the family Bible, family photos, 25-years of diaries my grandmother had kept, a writing desk used by my grandmother, all with attached memories, camping gear, clothing, kitchenware, antique dinning china from my grandmother, and computers, printers, along with other items I used in my work.
As I followed the other evacuees down the hill, to Chico, the fire was destroying homes and trees on both sides of the road, and I could feel the heat of the fire from inside my car. I drove through section of the fire where embers were blowing across the front of my car.
As I drove through the fire, I saw two cars that were on fire and other cars that had stopped to get the people to safety.
When I reached the bottom of the hill, my daughter was able to call my cellphone and tell me where they were and that everyone was safe.
Please don’t think that any amount of assistance is too small. Gift cards work wonders.
To receive mail, I have rented a mailbox at a local Postal Station. That address is:
Jim Porter
1692 Mangrove Ave, Box 285
Chico, Ca 95926
Thank you again for being willing to touch my life and help me rebuild my life.
Currently I am staying with two of my nieces in Reno, Nevada area (Sparks) and traveling back and fourth to Chico as needed to do what is required for assistance from FEMA and the SBA. The drive from Reno to Chico is a little over three hours and goes over the Donner Pass. It's a beautiful drive, but lately the weather (snow) was made it difficult to drive.
On October 20, 2018, I moved into my new apartment in Paradise CA. Paradise "was" a beautiful quiet little town located in the foothills of the western Sierra Nevada foothills, with a population of about 26,000.
On Nov. 8, at 6:30 in the morning, 10 miles away from Paradise, the Camp Fire started. With winds of up to 50 mph, by 11 AM, the fire had encircled the town of Paradise and by noon, the entire town had been engulfed with flames.
At about 9:30 that morning, my daughter (Autumn) called and asked me to go to their home to get Simon (my grandson). By that time, the evacuation traffic was so bad and congested, I couldn't even get out of my driveway. Thank God, the people who lived next to my daughter got Simon out of the house and took him to safety with them. A short time later, Autumn called again to tell me Simon was safe.
At 10:30, when I evacuated, I had only the cloths on my back and a change of clothes I was able to grab. By 11:00 the sky was as dark and black as midnight.
The fire spread so rapidly that firefighters stopped attempting to control the flames, and instead sought to help people get out alive.
Because I had just moved, I did not have renter’s insurance and my apartment building burned to the ground.
(Before the Fire)(After the Fire)All of my personal belongs were destroyed by the fire. I lost cherished items inherited from my mother, the family Bible, family photos, 25-years of diaries my grandmother had kept, a writing desk used by my grandmother, all with attached memories, camping gear, clothing, kitchenware, antique dinning china from my grandmother, and computers, printers, along with other items I used in my work.
As I followed the other evacuees down the hill, to Chico, the fire was destroying homes and trees on both sides of the road, and I could feel the heat of the fire from inside my car. I drove through section of the fire where embers were blowing across the front of my car.
As I drove through the fire, I saw two cars that were on fire and other cars that had stopped to get the people to safety.
When I reached the bottom of the hill, my daughter was able to call my cellphone and tell me where they were and that everyone was safe.
Please don’t think that any amount of assistance is too small. Gift cards work wonders.
To receive mail, I have rented a mailbox at a local Postal Station. That address is:
Jim Porter
1692 Mangrove Ave, Box 285
Chico, Ca 95926
Thank you again for being willing to touch my life and help me rebuild my life.
Organizer
Jim Porter
Organizer
Paradise, CA
