Williams Family Recovery Fund

Dear friends and family,

The Paradise #campfire has blazed and erased my entire hometown and my family was able to escape with only the clothes on their backs. Our family business and the homes where we laid our roots have been destroyed and I could not be more grateful for everyone who has offered their home and support to us while my family pieces their lives back together.

What concerns me most is that my parents no longer have an income and so much of our family depends on them financially. Because of this, I am looking to raise money to help tide my family over until they can get back on their feet. 

If you have offered to help and want to send some love our way, we would be beyond grateful.

Here's a written account of my mother's experience during this tragedy that I've copied from her FB page:

"Thank you for all the love, support and prayers. We are all safe. I awake and can't stop crying, I almost lost my family. I truly thought we were all going to die trapped in our cars with the fires closing in. I can still hear the explosions, my throat is burned, it was so black, no air, the panic and fear on everyone's faces. And my family, my God, they were still up high. My daughter called me to say goodbye, I could not breathe, gripped with those words, I screamed at her to get out. I did not know what else to do. I'm yelling at Mark to go get them. But he looked at me and grabbed my hand and kept driving. I later learned of their horrific harrowing survival. 150 people ran from their cars, huddled together while firefighters fought around them and helicopters dumped water on them. My daughter overheard a fireman calling his wife to say goodbye. Kristen kept putting a wet pillowcase over Ethan...sweet Lord, her bravery. My daughter and Lisa, in a last ditch effort, threw her family in her van and drove through the fire tunnels. They survived...they survived. We now know some did not make it. They were caught in their cars, dear God. My brother was rescued from his burning home by the bravest of firefighters despite the fire tornado. But he lost his beloved dogs. We heard the fire is still a monster headed towards neighboring cities. God help them. And despite the kindness of dear friends giving us shelter, it is beyond surreal and heartbreaking to wake up and realize it is all gone...you have no home. We only had minutes to escape...a few belongings, my pets, and run. All our homes burned, our town is gone, it's all gone. But we survived. Thank you Heavenly Father. We are all in shock today trying to process what just happened. The trauma is overwhelming. Trying to be strong. But it's hard. I have family and we will face this together. Mark has contacted FEMA and Red Cross. But, I have no idea really what's next. Forgive my book. I know im rambling. So many emails and messages from loved ones. So I'm sharing my thoughts. Again, thank you all for the the offers of help and support. We feel the love. Thank you truly from all of us from little Paradise. Our love to all ❤"