Pepe Tamayo Sonoma Fire Victim
Donación protegida
It has been devastating to stand by and watch so many people lose so much over the past days. When I saw this story by Terry Mcsweeney of NBC Bay Area News I felt I needed to reach out to Pepe and his family. I contacted Terry Mcsweeney and he connected me with Pepe. I created this gofundme account for 2 main reasons:
1. To directly connect with and help a family in my community so they can begin to recover from this tragic event.
2. To commend Pepe for his courage.
I have spoken with Pepe over the phone and asked his permission to raise money for his support. He is a very humble and kind man and extremely grateful to all.
Due to the lack of computer access to set up a direct deposit into Pepe's bank account, the funds donated here will be deposited into my account and send to him each friday. It is our hope we can can raise enough money for him to purchase a used trailer and get back to the property where he worked. All structures including his house were lost.
Pepe was working on a local winery and was given a place to live in exchange for his labor.
He told me that when the fire was surrounding the property he ran to the ranch owners house because he knew they were not home and their dog was in its kennel inside the house. He had to leave the dog in his truck when the helicopters arrived to rescue them (see story below). The dog would have perished if Pepe had left it in the house.
They have nothing and are currently staying at a hotel set up for evacuees. He only has a few days to stay there.
We have all witnessed the Wildfires charring the ruins in Napa, California. But what was torn apart by a ferocious flames was put back together by some brave heroes.
Pilot Pete Gavitte was flying his CHP chopper Sunday night toward Atlas Peak and saw what he said "looked like a nuclear bomb going off." Gavitte and partner Whitney Lowe raced to the rescue and spotted the Tamayo family below with no way out. Pepe Tamayo knew it was a life-or-death moment.
"Either get out or get cooked," was how he described it.
But there was a catch: The Tamayos are a family of five, and the helicopter could only fit four people. Pepe insisted he be the one left behind.
"It felt like we were on the Titanic, and Pepe was using us as a lifeboat, and his feet were already wet, and he's saying take my family and go," Gavitte said.
Pepe's son Jesse, his wife Graciela and her parents were safe as he stood alone surrounded by fire.
"I called my daughter, and I said if I don't see you again, remember I love you. And that was it," he said.
Pepe then headed for a nearby reservoir to avoid the flames. When the CHP chopper came back, Gavitte and Lowe at first couldn't see Pepe.
"When we returned to that landing zone, Pepe was gone, and my heart dropped," Lowe said.
Eventually, they spotted him. "I grabbed him by the back of his red shirt, and said, 'Sir, we're leaving; you're coming with us.' It was ugly. It was close; it was really close," Lowe said,
The Tamayos' house burned to the ground Sunday night. On Wednesday, Pepe went back to see what happened and search for his dog he'd left inside his truck. He found the dog, alive and well.
Please contribute to Pepe and his families recovery fund.
1. To directly connect with and help a family in my community so they can begin to recover from this tragic event.
2. To commend Pepe for his courage.
I have spoken with Pepe over the phone and asked his permission to raise money for his support. He is a very humble and kind man and extremely grateful to all.
Due to the lack of computer access to set up a direct deposit into Pepe's bank account, the funds donated here will be deposited into my account and send to him each friday. It is our hope we can can raise enough money for him to purchase a used trailer and get back to the property where he worked. All structures including his house were lost.
Pepe was working on a local winery and was given a place to live in exchange for his labor.
He told me that when the fire was surrounding the property he ran to the ranch owners house because he knew they were not home and their dog was in its kennel inside the house. He had to leave the dog in his truck when the helicopters arrived to rescue them (see story below). The dog would have perished if Pepe had left it in the house.
They have nothing and are currently staying at a hotel set up for evacuees. He only has a few days to stay there.
We have all witnessed the Wildfires charring the ruins in Napa, California. But what was torn apart by a ferocious flames was put back together by some brave heroes.
Pilot Pete Gavitte was flying his CHP chopper Sunday night toward Atlas Peak and saw what he said "looked like a nuclear bomb going off." Gavitte and partner Whitney Lowe raced to the rescue and spotted the Tamayo family below with no way out. Pepe Tamayo knew it was a life-or-death moment.
"Either get out or get cooked," was how he described it.
But there was a catch: The Tamayos are a family of five, and the helicopter could only fit four people. Pepe insisted he be the one left behind.
"It felt like we were on the Titanic, and Pepe was using us as a lifeboat, and his feet were already wet, and he's saying take my family and go," Gavitte said.
Pepe's son Jesse, his wife Graciela and her parents were safe as he stood alone surrounded by fire.
"I called my daughter, and I said if I don't see you again, remember I love you. And that was it," he said.
Pepe then headed for a nearby reservoir to avoid the flames. When the CHP chopper came back, Gavitte and Lowe at first couldn't see Pepe.
"When we returned to that landing zone, Pepe was gone, and my heart dropped," Lowe said.
Eventually, they spotted him. "I grabbed him by the back of his red shirt, and said, 'Sir, we're leaving; you're coming with us.' It was ugly. It was close; it was really close," Lowe said,
The Tamayos' house burned to the ground Sunday night. On Wednesday, Pepe went back to see what happened and search for his dog he'd left inside his truck. He found the dog, alive and well.
Please contribute to Pepe and his families recovery fund.
Organizador
Christie Lynn Achor
Organizador
Petaluma, CA
