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Pictured here, is my nephew Shawn Anderson and his family; wife, Lindsay and their children, 17 year old Mackenzie and 11 year old Michael.
Thursday, November 8th brought a world of change to this family.
In the early morning hours of this day, the Camp Fire began. Shawn, who always began his day at the break of dawn, while driving to work spotted a low slung gray brown cloud laying like fog over Flea Canyon in the distance. He recognized it was a fire but he hadn't heard reportage of it yet. He had previously served as a Paradise Volunteer Firefighter for 7+ years and his instincts told him that this eerie cloud and this fire were different.
At work as a roofer, he organized his tools for the job that day but also called his boss, Matt to check in. He figured that Matt, who simultaneously serves as a Cal Fire Prevention Officer might have some insight or further knowledge about what was happening near Paradise. On vacation, Matt didn't know the status of the fire and asked Shawn to hold off a bit to see what he could find out. Moments later he called back, telling Shawn and the crew to leave the job site immediately and get out of Paradise. Shawn put down the phone and looked out across the horizon. He saw the plume of smoke turn black and flatten out, wending rapidly over the ridge line and into town. He knew this meant the fire was being pushed by 50 to 70 mile per hour winds and that it would come roaring into Paradise at a speed that was unforgiving. He called the crew over and told them to "go home and get your families out now."
He called Lindsay, told her not to go to work, to keep the kids home, to quickly pack everyone up. He told her to call her parents, her sister, her brother. He called his mom and his brother. He felt sick, trying to figure out how to help his mom and his family both, located in two different parts of town. His mom told him to "go to your family and get them out." She said she'd be fine.
From upper Paradise, he raced home to Magalia, against the traffic of those who were just beginning their day; on their way to work that morning. He rolled down his truck window and shouted toward people to "turn around, get out, that fire is here!" At home, Lindsay gathered important papers, had the kids grab a few things and round up the pets and waited. Shawn arrived in his work truck and Michael, carrying BW, his pet bearded dragon, followed by Dakota the family's golden lab, hopped in with his dad. Lindsay and Cooper, their other golden lab joined Mac in her truck.
Shawn had made it home to Magalia but the fire was at his back and had already cut Magalia from Paradise. Shawn led the two vehicle caravan down through the little one lane Centerville road just in front of the fire to beat it as it came into the canyon. Passing the historic Honeyrun covered bridge each said their goodbyes to the bridge, the forest, their home.
They made it down the rugged road darkened by smoke and into the light of Chico. They pulled into the Trader Joe's parking lot and waited for other family members; grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, to arrive as previously agreed upon. One-by-one the families pulled in, each with a harrowing tale to tell. One-by-one, other family members checked in. In-total; 50 family members, all accounted for, all safe.
Initially, Shawn and Lindsay got news that their house was still standing. But on Monday night the fire made a run at it again and as of today, they've still no confirmation as to the status of their home. Shawn said, "the wondering is killing us!"
What they do know is that Shawn, who works as a Roofer with a local construction company is now out of work; his employer lost both home and business. Lindsay works as a Dental Assistant for a local Paradise dentist. The office is still standing but no one will be able to work out of it for at least a year and so she too has lost her employment.
Mackenzie was a Senior at Paradise High School and Michael, a fifth grader at Children's Community Charter School. Both schools were badly damaged will not open anytime soon.
Life is upside down, and not just for the Andersons...
Shawn's mom, who is my sister Tamie Maynard, along with her pup, Petey made it out alive but she lost her home to this fire.
Shawn's brother Joe Anderson and partner Kylee Dancer and their two sons, 5 year old Gage and 3 year old Kade made it out alive but lost their home to this fire.
Shawn's grandparents, Naomi State and Dutch Steffan, lost their home.
Lindsay's parents, Tom and Lisa Melton lost their home.
Lindsay's brother, Tanner Melton, his wife Tracy and their 3 year old twins Quinn and Wyatt lost their home.
Lindsay's sister Stevie Shanoff and her husband Kyle and son, 8 year old Joshie lost their home.
All of these families are working to move forward through this tragedy.
You may likely find more GFM pages for some of them on FB.
Thursday, November 8th brought a world of change to this family.
In the early morning hours of this day, the Camp Fire began. Shawn, who always began his day at the break of dawn, while driving to work spotted a low slung gray brown cloud laying like fog over Flea Canyon in the distance. He recognized it was a fire but he hadn't heard reportage of it yet. He had previously served as a Paradise Volunteer Firefighter for 7+ years and his instincts told him that this eerie cloud and this fire were different.
At work as a roofer, he organized his tools for the job that day but also called his boss, Matt to check in. He figured that Matt, who simultaneously serves as a Cal Fire Prevention Officer might have some insight or further knowledge about what was happening near Paradise. On vacation, Matt didn't know the status of the fire and asked Shawn to hold off a bit to see what he could find out. Moments later he called back, telling Shawn and the crew to leave the job site immediately and get out of Paradise. Shawn put down the phone and looked out across the horizon. He saw the plume of smoke turn black and flatten out, wending rapidly over the ridge line and into town. He knew this meant the fire was being pushed by 50 to 70 mile per hour winds and that it would come roaring into Paradise at a speed that was unforgiving. He called the crew over and told them to "go home and get your families out now."
He called Lindsay, told her not to go to work, to keep the kids home, to quickly pack everyone up. He told her to call her parents, her sister, her brother. He called his mom and his brother. He felt sick, trying to figure out how to help his mom and his family both, located in two different parts of town. His mom told him to "go to your family and get them out." She said she'd be fine.
From upper Paradise, he raced home to Magalia, against the traffic of those who were just beginning their day; on their way to work that morning. He rolled down his truck window and shouted toward people to "turn around, get out, that fire is here!" At home, Lindsay gathered important papers, had the kids grab a few things and round up the pets and waited. Shawn arrived in his work truck and Michael, carrying BW, his pet bearded dragon, followed by Dakota the family's golden lab, hopped in with his dad. Lindsay and Cooper, their other golden lab joined Mac in her truck.
Shawn had made it home to Magalia but the fire was at his back and had already cut Magalia from Paradise. Shawn led the two vehicle caravan down through the little one lane Centerville road just in front of the fire to beat it as it came into the canyon. Passing the historic Honeyrun covered bridge each said their goodbyes to the bridge, the forest, their home.
They made it down the rugged road darkened by smoke and into the light of Chico. They pulled into the Trader Joe's parking lot and waited for other family members; grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, to arrive as previously agreed upon. One-by-one the families pulled in, each with a harrowing tale to tell. One-by-one, other family members checked in. In-total; 50 family members, all accounted for, all safe.
Initially, Shawn and Lindsay got news that their house was still standing. But on Monday night the fire made a run at it again and as of today, they've still no confirmation as to the status of their home. Shawn said, "the wondering is killing us!"
What they do know is that Shawn, who works as a Roofer with a local construction company is now out of work; his employer lost both home and business. Lindsay works as a Dental Assistant for a local Paradise dentist. The office is still standing but no one will be able to work out of it for at least a year and so she too has lost her employment.
Mackenzie was a Senior at Paradise High School and Michael, a fifth grader at Children's Community Charter School. Both schools were badly damaged will not open anytime soon.
Life is upside down, and not just for the Andersons...
Shawn's mom, who is my sister Tamie Maynard, along with her pup, Petey made it out alive but she lost her home to this fire.
Shawn's brother Joe Anderson and partner Kylee Dancer and their two sons, 5 year old Gage and 3 year old Kade made it out alive but lost their home to this fire.
Shawn's grandparents, Naomi State and Dutch Steffan, lost their home.
Lindsay's parents, Tom and Lisa Melton lost their home.
Lindsay's brother, Tanner Melton, his wife Tracy and their 3 year old twins Quinn and Wyatt lost their home.
Lindsay's sister Stevie Shanoff and her husband Kyle and son, 8 year old Joshie lost their home.
All of these families are working to move forward through this tragedy.
You may likely find more GFM pages for some of them on FB.