Paradise, Ca. - Ken& Derek"Camp Fire Survivors"

My son and I plus 2 dogs had to evacuate the town of Paradise, Ca.. There was a horrific and tragic event. Our home has been destroyed by the most horrifying fire in California's history. Plus many many other homes and businesses. We have been displaced and living out of my car. We lost everything in a blink of an eye. I'm disabled and don't have the funds to start over. Any size donation is greatly appreciated.  I know this time of year is tight with money. Winter weather is on the way. Living in a car is no place for a family to live. Which I'm grateful to have.  If anyone can spare some change or a dollar? RESPECTFULLY, THE ISOM FAMILY   God Bless you and thank you for your generous donation. Here's the story of my escape. From the fires of hell. On the morning of Nov. 08 2018. Approximately 8:30am, I received a text. I was asleep I heard it and wasn't going to look. But, deep down my intuition was pinging. Felt like if I didn't the outcome would be bad. My son Derek, who is attending his first year at Butte college. Text me, Dad there's a fire and you might need to evacuate. I wasn't quite awake and started to hear what sounded like thunder and rain. Thought to myself, there's no rain in the forecast. I proceeded to get dressed walked outside. Immediately I was overwhelmed by all the smoke. I then notice my neighbor Ellen that lives across the street. That she had her vehicle backed up to her door and the lights on. That seemed a bit odd. Then noticed cars backed up past my home. The wind was intense. What I thought was rain. Was the pine needles falling off the 50ft. pine trees. What I thought was thunder, was transformers and propane tanks exploding. I ran to wake my uncle Carl9 and cousin Chelsea. My cuz and I went outside to evaluate the situation. Our neighbor Ellen yelled for us to get out there's a fire coming this way. I immediately went got my 2 dogs Willey and Samson. Put them in my car. Not knowing how much time I had. Something was telling me that there was no time. I packed the dog food and grabbed a couple of pictures from the wall. My moms ashes. Who tragically past away 20th of December 2017. I ran in to my uncles and let them know that I'm out of there. You guys really have to get out of here now. If I don't make it out or see each other again. I love you. I texted my son Derek, told him I was coming to get him from Butte college. I got in my car and noticed how dark it was. Put the key in the ignition. Nothing. Oh crap I had taken the battery out the night before. Using it to run water pump to sloughs box. I hurried and installed the battery. It was around 9:30am when I left. I then noticed there was a lot of traffic to the right. I went left out of the driveway. Towards Wagstaff. I looked to my gas gage and realized I was on E. I then took a right on Wagstaff and seen this fire engine. Firemen hooking up to the fire hydrant. Thinking to myself, this is pretty fucking serious. I freaked out a bit cause I needed gas. I needed to get to my son.xa As I was getting closer to Skyway there where cars backed up trying to gain access to the Skyway. So I know my way around a little. 23 years I've been in Paradise. Cars are driving down the bike path wondering if I should take that route? I choose to go down Oakway to Bille. Then to Skyway . I knew that there is a gas station. Well I see police officers directing traffic. All the lanes are packed like a sardine can. I made my way into Skyway. But, couldn't get over to get gas. So, at this time I thinking this doesn't look good. I'm on the Skyway in my mustang on E. At a snails pace got up to the location of Auto Zone. Traffic didn't move for an hour. Seemed like forever. Sitting there in my car thinking today if I die, I know that my son Derek is safe. Sitting there going nowhere fast. I watched families walking down skyway with their pets. Carrying random items. Some with only a blanket wrapped around them. Starting to see the flames coming from the left if me. And then noticed flames where also coming from my right. Thinking to myself again. Yup, you're probably not going to get out of here. So, I texted my son telling him. Son if I don't make it out. I love you more than life itself. Get ahold of your sister Harley. I know she will be there for you. Unbeknownst to me, pressed the send button. Thinking it went through. Looked to see if he received it. Noticed there wasn't any cell service. I'm starting to get more worried. I'm in a sardine can of traffic on E. I'm going to die. My son won't see me again. Finally the traffic starts to move. At a snails pace non the less. Got another 20 ft and traffic stopped. People were walking faster than the traffic flow. Thinking should I just get out and walk. But thought no, I have to try to get out with the car. I need to get to my son. All of a sudden behind me I noticed cars pulling over to the curb. Why are they doing that? I'm thinking. Then I see 3 vehicles coming through. Stopping all the people trying to escape this blazing inferno. Another 25mn sitting and not going anywhere. Flames getting closer, hearing explosions going off. Seeing people running. Traffic starts to go. Finally, I thought. Was moving about 5 mph. Getting closed to Elliott. Traffic stops. Their bringing emergency vehicles through the middle of the evacuees. I thought how fucking brilliant. Stopping the people they are trying to get out. Looked at my cellphone to see if maybe that text went through. It finally did. Trying to send another message to Derek. But seen that there wasn't any service. It started to feel warm. I was in the middle of the Skyway thinking if I run out of gas I needed to get to the outside lane. Because, If I was going to die from running out of gas. I didn't want to block people from escaping. As soon as I thought it a small window of traffic opened up. So, I took it. By this time flames are coming closer. They were 200ft or more. Devouring and engulfing houses, building in a flash. Traffic starts moving. Flames getting much closer. Noticed sweat starting to roll down my temple. It's getting hot. I seen people running for there lives and they, they couldn't outrun it. They, may rest in peace, burst into flames. The flames weren't even close to them. So I thought. Feeling Panicked now. I prayed that If I don't make it, please,please watch over my son. Got to Neil road, going on 2 hours 40mn and still not quite out of danger. Flames are at the road now. What looked like fire balls falling from the sky. Are pine cones falling everywhere. I put my hand to the driver side window. Immediately had to pull it off cause it was so hot. Getting closer to the crossroads houses and businesses burning on both sides of me. Cars are being diverted down the 2 left lanes of the Skyway. Flames shooting sideways across the road. Cars are slowing down trying to avoid the flames. I had to go panicking I started to scream at the car in front of me to get going. I seen a gap and gas it. Almost clipped his/ her bumper. My car started losing traction. Thinking oh shit my tires are gonna blow from the heat. My car will explode from the gas fumes in my tank. Well I punched it hit 90 and made through. Just pass the thick black smoke, CHP directing traffic. I figure I would nee the right lane so if I do make it down the hill. Gas station is on the right. Flew past them doing 90 thinking if I run out of gas I could coast a ways. I got to the where gas was, but couldn't get to it. I finally made it to the Sinclair by Walmart. It was packed with evacuees trying to get gas. After an hour of waiting for a pump. I put the last money I had plus the 20 my Uncle gave me in the tank.