Paradise Lost - Inside the Camp Fire

I'm from Paradise, we lost our house and my parents lost their business. I was at Feather River Hospital for a doctor's appointment, and when I got there I went in and asked what was happening and they told me there was a fire in a town that was like 3 mountain ridges away. So I signed, and about 15 mins later they took me into a room to get seen by a doctor. Then about 2 mins go by and they come in and tell me that the hospital is evacuating. So I walk out the front to go too my car and about 50 feet from the doctors office I was in the fire just blew up the canyon reaching up and over to the parking lot. So I hop in my car and haul ass to my dad's work, peeling into his work and telling him to close the shop we have to go, that the hospital was about to be on fire. And he's like yeah okay sure, not really taking it to seriously. I'm told him I'm fucking going home to wake up mom and pack some shit. No more than 10 mins after I leave he calls and says I'm closing the shop, there's fucking entire tree limbs that are on fire falling from the sky. So he gets home and my mom is being super defiant saying I'm not leaving until the fire is on the street or I have to take a shower first. I grabbed her and told her I'm not fucking playing and I'm not gonna argue, I was like you have to pack your stuff and we have to go. While me and my sister are packing my parents get a call from my grandma who lives in Chico crying and asking if we left already. My dad told her no and she was crying and sniffling and telling us we had too leave and my dad started crying and said they were packing now then leaving. Once we packed as much as we could into our cars we left, but it didn't help because of how sudden the fire was every street was clogged. We were in line for like an hour and a half before we even got to skyway. It terrifying to watch what used too be a bright sky turn to midnight in less than an hour. I was calling my family because we got separated somewhere on skyway talking to them just for comfort. By time I could see the top of skyway it was already a blazing inferno. I was already having trouble making phone calls because of thick the smoke was. I was able to make one last phone call before getting to the fire. It was with my dad, my voice was a really shaky. I told him when he picked up that skyway was on fire that fire was on the road, and I was like what do I do. He told just follow the break lights in front of you and don't stop. I started too break down a crying a little and said okay. Then I could here him start too cry and he said I love you bud. I just completely broke down at point and said that I loved him too, then almost like it was on cue the phone cut out . I started to panic saying hello are you there before noticing the phone had cut out. So as I was approaching the area of road that was on fire, I took deep breaths and remembered what my dad told me. But as I was driving thru skyway the fire was getting worse and cars were stopping. After a little of driving thru it the fire got so bad that the two lane road turned into just shy of a one lane road, the fire was practically touching the sides of the cars. I was getting burned thru my car door. Its kinda hard to describe what it feels like when you think you're gonna die. When you think that your family and you aren't gonna make it out alive. I was driving a pretty old truck that had some history of overheating, and because it was getting so hot I was worried of overheating. That would have been it, I wouldn't have been able to get out because the fire was so close to the doors. And the poor people behind me including my family. But I made it through and once I saw clear sky I fucking lost it, I was a grown ass man bawling. I immediately picked up my phone shaking and blubbering trying to call my family. I got through to my dad and told him I made it. He was also crying saying he did too, I asked about mom and my sister and he said he was right behind them and everyone made it out so we hung up and did like 100 down skyway to Chico. We all met up at my grandma's house and all exchange hugs crying and telling each other we love them. And as much as I'd like to say I was brave, calm and collected I wasn't I actually thought I was gonna die. I had problems going to sleep for like 4 months after the fire. I already had pretty bad anxiety, but ended up developing some social anxiety because of being stuck in line to get watch the smoke get thicker and thicker. It fucked me up mentally pretty bad and I wouldn't wish what happened to our town upon my worst enemy.

I remember this fire, school was canceled because the smoke in the Bay Area was so heavy. Thank you CHP and other first responders

I drove through the fire. This video captures some great stories and emotions... it's almost 3 years later and unless you were there this doesn't begin to convey the experiences being described. You did not know if you were going to survive. Thank you officers, cal fire, all first responders and all individual citizens who helped our fellow paradisians.

These guys did a freaking awesome job getting us out. We owe our lives to them. I for one am forever changed by this. I can’t imagine how they put their lives on the line for all of us idiots out here. God bless them AND their families.

i think people don’t understand how hard it was to get out. we were on the other ridge but the only way out was down the hill on Skyway which was blocked by traffic, every other access point was blocked by fire. devistating

Respect from the Bay Area to every first responder out there.

Because of these brave amazing people my family made it out with our lives I am forever thankful and grateful to all who dedicated their time to fight with us that day. Thank you from the bottom of my heart❤

Our officers don't get nearly enough appreciation for what they do and decisions they have to make to put the publics safety before thier own.

That's so incredible. So sad for all the lives lost, human and and animal alike, all the homes and memories. But thanks to all the first responders for their quick thinking and ability to keep going in call to serve and protect.

Had a lot of friends living in paradise, I worked at SRMC during carr, things would’ve been a lot of different without all these first responders. We will forever be grateful for you guys

Blessings to all 1st responders; those in uniform; volunteers, etc🤗❤️ Lives saved daily💞

Respect from New Zealand, please stay safe.

Thank you first responders for everything you did to take the fire out and saving our lives

My hands shake Everytime I watch video of the Paradise fire I know people were lost but far more were saved by the diligent work of first responders giving their time and efforts to ensure the as many people as humanly possible could get out.

Proud to be joining them 🚔

Rip to all lives lost🙏❤️God Bless 🙌✝️

Thank you CHP for what you did for these people on that horrific day. Paradise was my childhood home, and it is still so very hard for me to know and see how everything I knew as a kid is just gone.

Aloha! Lahaina here! I remember watching this fire in horror. In an odd way, it makes me understand this one , and that one better. The wind!! I am going to meet up with local law enforcement here to give a statement on my video(different channel) and my experience. I am in full support and appreciation of our first responders ! I am disgusted with all the blaming. I do believe it is climate change…..ultimately responsible….and these types of things will happen exponentially more often. 🙏🏼🙏🏼 Mahalo for your service

Thank you guys so much! If it wasn't for you guys my dad would have been stuck on the inter section.

That's remember Portugal 2017,we lost 112 people in two separate events, in June and October. So difficult for me speak about because I feel so embarrassed. The lack of descordination between rescue forces lead us to this tragedy