IT LOOKS LIKE, WHEN A TOWN HAS EACH OTHER’S BACKS. >> WE ARE ON DAY THREER O FOUR OF 15. JUST TRYING TO FIND KEEPSAKES. ER:IN FOR WINDY DOUGALL, IT’S A LABOR OF LOVE NATS HER FAMILY LIVING ON THIS PROPERTY FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, SHE AND HER FATHER ARE IN SEARCH OF ONE OF THE MOST MEANLINGFUL THINGS HER MOM LEFT BEHIND AFTER PASSG AWAY JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. >> I’M LOOKING FOR THDIAME ONDS OUT OF MY MOM’S WEDDING RI.NG IT’S JUST SUCH A REALLY SWLO LABORIOUS PROCESS. ERIN: THE RIER FIRE CATCHING SO MANY, LIKE THEOU DGALL’SOFF GU ARD. >> THE GLOW RIGHT BEHINDHE T TREES, AND THE PILLOWS OF SMOKE JUST RISING LIKE CZY.RA >> THE RIVER FIRE CAUGHT UALS BY SURPRISE. ERIN: THE SUPPORT NOW PILLING INBUT THE LACK OF ACTUAL PLACES TO STAY IN COLFAX CREAS TEITS OWN CHALLENGES. >> YOU KNOW EVERYBODY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WANTED TO DSOMEO THING, THE PROBLEM IS WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. ERIN: CHRISTI KANINSEY AND HIS NEIGHBORS HELPING THROW A BREAKFAST THIS MORNINGJUSTO WRITE AND FACES, OWSHING CARE. >> WE ARE SO TORN FOR OUR FRIENDS WHO LOST EVERYTHING. ER:IN THANK YOUS HANGING FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE TO ALWHL O CAME TO HELP. >> JUST THE GENEROSITY OF SO MANY PEOPLE TO HAVE GIVEN WHAT THEY HAVE GIVEN ANTHD E THOUGHTS OF WHAT DO I DO WITH IT, WHERE DO I START? ERIN: DOWNTOWN A SUPPLY CENTER BRIMNGMI WITH ESSENTIALS. PEOPLE STOPPING IN. >> BETTER THINGS ARE COMING. ER:IN LIKE MERRIDY LILLEY CREATING THIS SIGN, HOPING IT SPARKED SOME JOY. >> I’M HOPING FOR EVERYBODY. PLAYING -- PRAYING FOR EVERYBODY. ERIN: THE NON PROFIT, SOROPTIMIST, PUT THIS TOGETH,ER FOR ALL FIRE SURVIVORS, ORGANIZING THIS MASSIVE SHOW OF SUPPORT MADE POSSIBLE BY TIRHE COMMUNITY. >> IF ALL WE DO IS GIVE THEM A BIG HUG, AND GIVE THEM SOME SUPPORT, AND THEY LEAVE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A SMILE THEONIR FACE THEN WE’VE DONE OUR JOB. ERIN: SO ATTH WHEN THE SIFTING IS DONE. FOR THE DOUGALL’S AND E THOVER ONE HUNDRED FAMILIES IN E THSAME SHOES, THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO GET THEM STARTED ONCE AGAIN. WALTER: THE SUPPLY CENTER CLOSES AT 6:00 TONIGHT BUT THE SUPPESLI
Recovery efforts underway after more than 100 homes burnt in California
'At this point, there’s nothing really salvageable'
Updated: 11:20 PM EDT Aug 14, 2021
Recovery efforts began ramping up on the burnt hills and valleys of Placer County in northern California soon after Cal Fire announced on Thursday the River Fire was 100% contained. "We are on day three or four of sifting trying to find any kind of keepsakes," said Windy Dougall.Dougall, with her hands covered in ash, searched through the familial property where her sister's and parents’ house stood. She said even most of the metal on their property melted during the fire."This right here was the garage, that's actually my first car," said Chuckling Dougall, pointing toward the shell of a 1966 Ford Mustang. "At this point, there's nothing really salvageable."The Dougall family has lived on the same property for the last 15 years. Windy, along with her father, continues to search through the ash, hunting for one of the most meaningful things her mother left behind after her passing, which was just two weeks before the fire."I'm looking for the diamonds out of my mom's wedding ring. It's just such a really slow laborious process," Windy Dougall said.The Dougall family's two homes are among the 102 residential properties reportedly destroyed in the wildfire. "The River Fire caught us all by surprise," said Mike Basich, whose business caught fire last year and whose home burned down last week.Long-time resident Jim Lee remarked on how close the flames felt in downtown Colfax."The glow right behind the trees, and the billows of smoke just rising like crazy," Lee said.Neighbors, like Christian Kinsey, threw "Welcome Home" breakfasts for the many evacuees that recently gained full access to their property. "We are, you know, so heart-torn for our friends who lost everything. You know everybody in the neighborhood wanted to do something, the problem is we don’t know what to do," Kinsey explained. The nonprofit, Soroptimist, held a relief center for fire survivors at 55 School Street. Officials with the nonprofit said they've had several donations."Just the generosity of so many people to have given what they have given," said Karen Miller, with Soroptimist."It is devastating for these people, and they have broken down just in tears. If all we do is give them a big hug, and give them some support, and they leave with a little bit of a smile on their face, then we’ve done our job," Miller said.
Recovery efforts began ramping up on the burnt hills and valleys of Placer County in northern California soon after Cal Fire announced on Thursday the River Fire was 100% contained.
"We are on day three or four of sifting trying to find any kind of keepsakes," said Windy Dougall.
Dougall, with her hands covered in ash, searched through the familial property where her sister's and parents’ house stood. She said even most of the metal on their property melted during the fire.
"This right here was the garage, that's actually my first car," said Chuckling Dougall, pointing toward the shell of a 1966 Ford Mustang. "At this point, there's nothing really salvageable."
The Dougall family has lived on the same property for the last 15 years. Windy, along with her father, continues to search through the ash, hunting for one of the most meaningful things her mother left behind after her passing, which was just two weeks before the fire.
"I'm looking for the diamonds out of my mom's wedding ring. It's just such a really slow laborious process," Windy Dougall said.
The Dougall family's two homes are among the 102 residential properties reportedly destroyed in the wildfire.
"The River Fire caught us all by surprise," said Mike Basich, whose business caught fire last year and whose home burned down last week.
Long-time resident Jim Lee remarked on how close the flames felt in downtown Colfax.
"The glow right behind the trees, and the billows of smoke just rising like crazy," Lee said.
Neighbors, like Christian Kinsey, threw "Welcome Home" breakfasts for the many evacuees that recently gained full access to their property.
"We are, you know, so heart-torn for our friends who lost everything. You know everybody in the neighborhood wanted to do something, the problem is we don’t know what to do," Kinsey explained.
The nonprofit, Soroptimist, held a relief center for fire survivors at 55 School Street. Officials with the nonprofit said they've had several donations.
"Just the generosity of so many people to have given what they have given," said Karen Miller, with Soroptimist.
"It is devastating for these people, and they have broken down just in tears. If all we do is give them a big hug, and give them some support, and they leave with a little bit of a smile on their face, then we’ve done our job," Miller said.
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