Aunt Gracie Loses Everything in Mountainview Fire

On Tuesday, November 17, 2020 our Auntie Gracie lost everything in the Mountainview Fire in Coleville, CA.  Coleville is a small rural community in Mono County, California near Topaz Lake, NV.  Our Aunt was in her home on our family land, beading after breakfast.  She is a Native artisan that makes her living off her art and handmade jewelry.  She recounted her experience later that evening:  I saw the sky change from blue and windy to orange. So I looked outside and smelled smoke and looked south and saw black smoke and big orange flames coming fast. I went back in and got my overnight bag and a couple bags from the last fire that I hadn't unpacked. That's all I had time to get because the field next to the road was blazing with flames. I just jumped in my van and took off following my neighbor down the road. Then I looked at the neighbor's house at the end of my road and saw the elderly neighbor looking out her 2nd story window. So I pulled in her yard and started to honk my horn, she came out and I said "Let's go!"  The flames were at her place by then. That whole field was full of flames. She got her shoes and sweatshirt and I had to run in and help her down the stairs and into my van. Then we got on the road and both sides were in flames. I told her, "We're going through the flames and hopefully there's no cars in the way!" I couldn't see because of the smoke and flames. I knew I was going up the hill and hoped I wouldn't drive off the road or hit a snow pole. It cleared up by the stop sign and we kept going.  We headed to Walker and all the fire trucks were there. The fire was out of control, fanned by the wind. It had to be at least 75 mph. What a nightmare! All my photos, baskets, beadwork, deer hides all gone up in smoke. So sad. I just cried when I heard my house burned. So sad. 

This is THE WORST time to lose everything!  We are just going into the holiday season and we are in a global pandemic.  Auntie Gracie is in need of essentials, gas money, and a place to call home until she can get back on her feet.  She needs your help as soon as possible.  So sad, but heroic at the same time.  Auntie Gracie risked her own life to save the life of her neighbor.   She lost her house and all possessions.  She had no homeowners insurance.  Please help our hero that has lost everything.