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Phoenix native loses home in CA wildfire
As crews continue to try and contain the wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area, some of those affected are trying to put their lives back together, but as FOX 10's Ashlie Rodriguez discovers, some of those affected will have a difficult road back to more normal times.
PHOENIX - At least 25 people are dead in Southern California, as wildfires continue to sweep through the Greater Los Angeles area.
Hundreds of crews are in the air and on the ground, working tirelessly to contain the fires. While officials say there is now minimal activity on the Palisades and Eaton Fires, they are bracing for extremely critical fire conditions caused by a new period of Santa Ana Winds across the region.
Phoenix native loses home to wildfire
People affected by the fires are trying to put their lives back together, but for some, like Adrienne and BJ McDonnell, that will be no easy task.
The backstory:
Adrienne and BJ had a home near Pacific Palisades. BJ was shooting a film on the East Coast when he saw the fire encroaching on their home surveillance camera, and warned Adrienne, a Phoenix native and studio makeup artist.
At the time BJ warned Adrienne, she was in the process of evacuating with her kids and animals.
Eight days later, the McDonnells only have the clothes on their back. They now live out of a hotel room, simultaneously trying to keep working, rebuild their lives, and haggle with their insurance company for hours every day.
What they're saying:
"I said ‘it’s over,’" said BJ, recounting the moment when he warned Adrienne of what was happening. "I said everything is going to be gone, and sure enough, it’s gone."
The only item left standing at McDonnell's former home is a gargoyle, which is the couple's first joint purchase.
"When he showed me that video of the house, which is the gargoyle in the ashes, that’s when it hit me," said Adrienne. "That this is reality, and nothing survived, and that was just so overwhelming. Not just for us, but for everybody."
What They're Doing:
On Jan. 15, Adrienne and BJ spent the morning collecting what they could from a donation drive, as the shock of seeing dozens of neighbors, who altogether lost everything they owned in a matter of hours settled in.
"I was crying, and I just felt so overwhelmed," Adrienne said. "But then, you have somebody that just says ‘OK, I’m going to help you. Here’s your bag, we’re going to take you to the toiletry section, and then we’re going to take you here.’"
What's next:
FEMA has announced the fire victims can sign up for a one-time payment of $770 to purchase incidentals, with the promise of more federal dollars on the way.
However, no amount of money can bring back the lost memories.
"It’s just not going to be the same, you know?" Adrienne said. "It just had such magic, and we’ll create the magic again, but everything is gone."
What you can do:
You can join FOX's support of families impacted by the California wildfires by visiting go.fox/redcross.