Jensen Family - Paradise Camp Fire Relief
Donation protected
To all friends and family of the Jensen family,
Chris, Kelli, Zach, and Mason lost their home of 23 years in the devastating Camp Fire in Paradise on November 8, 2018. To hear their story of escape makes you realize how terrifying it was and how we are blessed they made it out safely.
Kelli knew something wasn't right that morning when she saw the sky. She drove to Pine Ridge Elementary School where she teaches and saw an ash-orange, billowing cumulus cloud that filled the sky on one side with blue sky on the other in Magalia. She quickly returned home to gather some belongings. Within 10 minutes, fire surrounded their home.
Kelli and her son Mason barely escaped the fast moving fire when they drove their truck down Pentz Road in Paradise. An RV was in the middle of the road on fire and the wind laid down the fire in the orchard across from them forcing their decision to turn around. Going the other direction led to 2 lanes of gridlock. They finally got to Skyway where both sides of the road were on fire. They no longer had cell service, so communication with Chris and Zach ended leading them to think the worst. They moved 5 miles in 4 hours. Above Wagstaff on Skyway, a sheriff came walking up to their truck and told them: “Abandon your vehicle and walk—the fire is right behind you.” It was the scariest thing they ever experienced. However, walking still turned out to be faster than the cars sitting and waiting for movement. Walk they did and when they reached the bottom of town to leave Paradise, they were able to flag a ride to reach Chico, where Kelli's sister Hannah lives. Kelli and Mason’s journey started at 8:40am that morning and they didn't reach Chico safely until around 3:30-4pm.
During that same timeframe, Chris was working at the Feather River hospital helping patients get evacuated. Patients were being picked up by their bed sheets and put into employee vehicles to escape the advancing flames. He was one of the last ones to leave the hospital and had to drive a treacherous path through the fire to escape. He went directly to Enloe Hospital in Chico to help receive the patients and the chaos that ensued. All the while, Chris knew Kelli and Mason were still trapped in the fire. Later, it was an emotional reuniting with Kelli and their sons Mason and Zach.
While insurance can surely help them rebuild their lives, this process is going to take years to rebuild their home. They will not be able to return to Paradise very soon because of the ash and toxins. This page has been setup to help them get started. They would like to use any donations to help replace two of their vehicles destroyed by the fire and to put some into their new home when they are able to move into one. Please consider any size donation knowing that every little bit helps. Funds will be automatically transferred from GoFundMe to the Jensen account.
Thank you for your support!
Trudy and Scott (Kelli and Chris's Aunt and Uncle)
The Jensen family reunited after not knowing if Kelli and Mason would get out of Paradise alive.
The November 8 morning view for Kelli while driving to her school for work.
Mason’s car in the driveway was destroyed and melted in the heat of the fire.
The Jensen home in Paradise.
Chris, Kelli, Zach, and Mason lost their home of 23 years in the devastating Camp Fire in Paradise on November 8, 2018. To hear their story of escape makes you realize how terrifying it was and how we are blessed they made it out safely.
Kelli knew something wasn't right that morning when she saw the sky. She drove to Pine Ridge Elementary School where she teaches and saw an ash-orange, billowing cumulus cloud that filled the sky on one side with blue sky on the other in Magalia. She quickly returned home to gather some belongings. Within 10 minutes, fire surrounded their home.
Kelli and her son Mason barely escaped the fast moving fire when they drove their truck down Pentz Road in Paradise. An RV was in the middle of the road on fire and the wind laid down the fire in the orchard across from them forcing their decision to turn around. Going the other direction led to 2 lanes of gridlock. They finally got to Skyway where both sides of the road were on fire. They no longer had cell service, so communication with Chris and Zach ended leading them to think the worst. They moved 5 miles in 4 hours. Above Wagstaff on Skyway, a sheriff came walking up to their truck and told them: “Abandon your vehicle and walk—the fire is right behind you.” It was the scariest thing they ever experienced. However, walking still turned out to be faster than the cars sitting and waiting for movement. Walk they did and when they reached the bottom of town to leave Paradise, they were able to flag a ride to reach Chico, where Kelli's sister Hannah lives. Kelli and Mason’s journey started at 8:40am that morning and they didn't reach Chico safely until around 3:30-4pm.
During that same timeframe, Chris was working at the Feather River hospital helping patients get evacuated. Patients were being picked up by their bed sheets and put into employee vehicles to escape the advancing flames. He was one of the last ones to leave the hospital and had to drive a treacherous path through the fire to escape. He went directly to Enloe Hospital in Chico to help receive the patients and the chaos that ensued. All the while, Chris knew Kelli and Mason were still trapped in the fire. Later, it was an emotional reuniting with Kelli and their sons Mason and Zach.
While insurance can surely help them rebuild their lives, this process is going to take years to rebuild their home. They will not be able to return to Paradise very soon because of the ash and toxins. This page has been setup to help them get started. They would like to use any donations to help replace two of their vehicles destroyed by the fire and to put some into their new home when they are able to move into one. Please consider any size donation knowing that every little bit helps. Funds will be automatically transferred from GoFundMe to the Jensen account.
Thank you for your support!
Trudy and Scott (Kelli and Chris's Aunt and Uncle)
The Jensen family reunited after not knowing if Kelli and Mason would get out of Paradise alive.The November 8 morning view for Kelli while driving to her school for work.Mason’s car in the driveway was destroyed and melted in the heat of the fire.The Jensen home in Paradise.Co-organizers (2)
Trudy & Scott Reese
Organizer
Paradise, CA
Kelli Jensen
Beneficiary
Hannah Sebring
Co-organizer