Paradise Lost - Inside the Camp Fire

On November 8, 2018, in the initial hours of the Camp Fire, dozens of CHP officers were deployed to assist in the evacuation of Paradise and surrounding areas. Although this was the deadliest wildfire in California history with 86 lives lost, thousands were successfully evacuated due to the actions of first responders.

[@dennisbryan7125]

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.

[@ollikim]

Glad you and your family made it. I live in upper Magalia, we went out to the north.

[@garp-cm7te]

Since the fire I have experienced severe claustrophobia but only in buildings I cannot go to a doctor's office and have them close the door while I wait on the doctor, and I am a doctor, I lost almost everything my town my friends my practiss, I now reside in North Carolina where fires are rare , God-bless my townsfolk of paradise

[@irishgrl]

Kimberly Heines Same. I lived in Paradise 20 years & the house I lived in for 17 years on Forest Lane behind Kmart was gone. Nothing left but the chimney and some cinder block walls. My house in Magalia survived, the fire stopped 8 streets away.

[@irishgrl]

Dennis Bryan That is Godawful...I’m glad you made it. I saw a vid elsewhere on KZbin where a guy went to help his disabled friend & his mother in the canyon (Honey Run I think) and the fire caught those ppl while they were in their car....you saw their skeletons. It would have caught him too but he outran it or got in water or something...just horrible.

[@garp-cm7te]

@@irishgrl my home was behind McDonald's and it burned to the ground my office was on Clark Road next to the Old Barn restaurant it burn down

[@gladiator7519]

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

[@anthonyturner1808]

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.

[@calimom8994]

I was living in Magalia, horrible day n awful getting out! Lost my house as well. Still get anxiety if there's a fire near by. Thank goodness for all the responders! Sure miss Paradise/Magalia it was so beautiful. Blessings All 🙏

[@kristentucker8274]

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❤

[@tylersullivan2898]

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

[@dragobrine4612]

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

[@carolequintel7160]

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.

[@haroldpbalsax2600]

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.

[@TheBrownsberg]

Are you suppose to lie.

[@TheBrownsberg]

Who are you? Why are you lying?

[@haroldpbalsax2600]

@TheBrownsberg it's OK that you're stupid. Somebody has to be. Congratulations for being stupid

[@DreAlexander7]

I used to live in Mendocino County. My house was the only one on a block that serviced. My step dad lost his house in paradise before he lived with us. It’s been my dream to be a CHP Air Operations officer for years now. I know the feeling of these fires. Thank you to CHP and Calfire!

[@Sindollx666x]

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.

[@josephdunbar4218]

I remember going to school to Chico that morning, I lived in orland, once I drove under the smoke cloud on highway 32 it felt like the template dropped 30 degrees I still remembered the chill down my spine like it was yesterday. I worked in paradise after school and on the weekends. The amount of tension and panic at our school was immense, people worried about their friends and family lots of crying. Chico became pretty deserted of law enforcement for about a month. A refugee camp was set up at church in Chico that a local MC pulled security for. There were food riots and people getting into serious fights. Disease was spreading for a little while. Especially Nora virus. The club brought things under control, very professional. It was a pleasure to do some good working security there. Kids were sick and traumatized. I’m a soldier in the army now and that day still haunts me.

[@belindahutchings9420]

Can't believe we're coming up on another anniversary of this horrible fire. I live north, in Redding. We had to evacuate from the Camp Fire in 113 degree heat. My mom has dementia and was scared witless, We evacuated 6 dogs that were divided between 2 vehicles...one without AC. It got so hot that Mom got sick and the dogs were panting like trains. Well, ultimately, we were okay. We couldn't go home for almost a month, but we weren't burned out. That was July, 2018. A few months later, in November, I was in Las Vegas, walking to a hotel. The winds were so high it was hard to walk. I was on the phone with a friend who lives in Magalia, and commented that I hoped they weren't getting these winds. She then said, "I think there's a fire out where my friend lives," and she hung up. Exactly 12 minutes later, she texted, saying her son had showed up and in those 12 minutes, they'd packed all her show dogs (13) and were running for their lives. Her son was smart enough to drive east toward Reno instead of west toward Chico.They were okay and their house was saved but they were really traumatized by the experience. Another couple I knew opened their door to flames. They were elderly and just had time to get to their car and run. We thought they'd been killed because they'd vanished for over a week. They were in Sacramento in a hotel. They'd both lost their phones to the fire. It's a good rule to always be ready for emergencies. Have a plan in place. Know your escape routes and have a go bag ready. These things happen fast.

[@WBCHelpSaint]

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.

[@Halfcrowindian]

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

[@YosemiteFour]

The CHP were and are amazing. In the PBS Frontline documentary, in the middle of a burning road, is a CHP vehicle with lights on, the officer keeping people from going that way, into a death trap.

[@oliverashford1796]

Respect from New Zealand, please stay safe.

[@riverpage7896]

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

[@ErolDotCom]

I don’t understand how people even got out. It’s a blessing yall did.

[@user-im6fy4qp6m]

great story thank you to our heroes in blue we appreciate what you do every day

[@mickeyjeangresham]

Thank you heroes💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

[@christ.6406]

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

[@ilmjas]

Last year. In 2021, we had a fire that burned around a million acres. Even worse than this but i feel really bad for the people that were stuck in traffic with fires right next to them.. I hope everyone was okay! And thank you to all the fire responders, officers, firefighters, and cal fire. We wouldnt be here right now if those jobs never existed.

[@brittanysears9556]

It’s the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. Everyone was definitely NOT okay😬 It was horrifying to experience and still horrifying to even see smoke on the horizon. Acreage isn’t always the what matters most.

[@cassandraMoore2024]

I see what you did there … 😢

[@cassandraMoore2024]

@@brittanysears9556thank you ❤❤❤ we have all come together so much since!!!

[@Hanky_Bannist8r]

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.

[@ZEEKUPP]

Agreed.

[@Keech209]

Rip to all lives lost🙏❤️God Bless 🙌✝️

[@thehunterstruck]

Just recently watched Fire on the Ridge which was founded by sponsors and survivors of the Camp Fire many of the survivors actually playing themselves in the movie. Very few movies bring me to tears but this is right up there in top 5 movies that absolutely brought me to tears.

[@tarafindlay-pinti4017]

Wow! I have no other words, except, I am really glad you made it out. You should live your life LIKE a legend! You MADE IT!!! 🥹😘🙏🙌🏼

[@kassandraking]

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

[@mic7265]

Respect from Australia

[@connienielsen2754]

Thanks to all the first responders! 14 family members and friends got out safely. Some walked down Skyway to shelter. Amazing work!

[@elubaofficialvevo2787]

This is just one reason why The highway Patrol calle their Shelf (THE BEST OF THE BEST) because they have what it takes! Thank's other police department's and FIRST Responders for their service..!!!

[@MyCutedragon]

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

[@thehunterstruck]

I remember hearing about that. Horrible events sadly media doesn’t care sometimes

[@KurtElliott]

One of my old neighbors lost their house at Paradise, she said propane tanks were exploding when the pulled out!

[@cheyenneexum488]

tru tru that happened

[@carolequintel7160]

The explosions sounded like bombs going off.

[@christmastownyeararound2947]

I’m crying from remembering it

[@papichorizo9330]

Proud to be joining them 🚔

[@CaylaMarieeeeee]

Ezekiel Hernandez I hope you’re one that does the right thing and speaks out against injustices! Lord knows the world needs it!!

[@LittleLulubee]

God bless you, Ezekiel 🙏❤️

[@mickeyjeangresham]

That is heartbreaking 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@lwc2009]

I was in the traffic on Skyway which was not moving at all.... black as midnight at 12 noon... no warnings were being given to those of us in Magalia... I only knew the fire was coming when a friend from Marysville who was in Chico at the time, called me and told me to "get the hell off the mountain... everything is burning!!!"...

[@nervestormv]

That's so sad 😢

[@thebronzetoo]

Damn good job, CHP.

[@kittygonzalez2827]

Heros‼️

[@eriksmith14782]

The palisades fire just burnt my house. Watching this to see how others coped😢

[@dukecoffee6527]

I lived in Paradise I sill remember that day for the rest of my life, I lived near the Feather River Hospital Just about a 5 minute car ride and a 15 minute walk when I tried to escape the little clothes i had just one pair a shorts and one t-shirt and the smoke was bad near kmart and up skyway and pentz I lived just a 5 to 10 minute walk to pentz. I lived off of sawmill rd a road called Young ave and i was rushing to house to hitched up my parents trailer and helped my neighbors to escape and I last thing I saw leaving Paradise was a house just two house's down was in golfed in flames and pitched black smoke ways heavy almost couldn't breathe and the grid lock was bad all I saw around me was flames a size of the pine trees being lit up and brush and little tress PG&E lines and Poles were on fire.

[@garp-cm7te]

I am from paradise also, lost my home, and business on Clark road what A-day that was... We've been through this before I thought I'll evacuate now and will be back this afternoon, it took over 4 weeks before I share my house had burned, Hope you are doing well, I relocated to North Carolina beautiful state

[@shaunconner295]

I am from Santa Rosa (tubbs fire) I know how all of you people feel... when I was evacuating we didn’t know where were going then next thing we know cars are on fire next to us. Then we realized were we are... a couple days later I went back to my community it was all gone a couple houses survived but mostly gone

[@ceecee9209]

If nobody was coming up to Paradise, why did it take so long to allow the cars to use the othe lanes? Where was the communication

[@josef_trains]

Thank you police officers for your service.

[@LittleLulubee]

God bless first responders 🙏❤️

[@Try-think]

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

[@garp-cm7te]

That was one hell of a day I was hanging out at my office on Clark Road just south of Pearson I watch this tape about once a month I don't know why lost everything I had must every picture almost every picture I grabbed three pictures for my office but all of my photo albums clothes mementos High School everything gone I was lucky one it was raining fire when I left but I never felt I was in extreme Danger

[@TheShangralaaaa17]

seems everyone that died were seniors. guessing most of the population are above 55

[@Imnotokay2024]

I almost died we lost our home i was in the fire it was 2blocks from my house

[@konkowjosephson1607]

No Wildfire ever does this,science does

[@ThePaulobraveheart]

good to all, could someone tell me where I can buy that emblem California Highway Patrol , which appears on the shirt of these two police officers who comment? thanks

[@Schwab530]

Okay I don’t mean to undermine the work these guys did but what about the idiots that left 99 open while people were stuck in fire on neal rd?

[@TamiFowler1]

It’s too bad Maui didn’t have that kind of response

[@johnworrall3646]

Garp 1966 and Irish girl , glad you guys made it to safety !

[@robertwolfiii8711]

Wow devastating fire

[@rendorwilliams9116]

They should set fires along the edges of the roads. That way the fire burns away from the roads. The further they burn the better. Then when the MAIN fire comes along, there's a good 20 foot plus, safety barrier along the roads. The alternative is to let the fires gradually encroach upon the roads. The fire then squeezes any cars or pedestrians in the middle of the road. They are essentially trapped between the two sides. The maximum intensity of the fire would then be right when it reaches the edge of the road and fans its flames across any unfortunate cars or people stuck in the middle.

[@getschwifty5271]

This fire was moving an entire football feild (an acre) per SECOND. The rate in which it grew & the awful changing 40mph winds made it impossible to do such a thing.

[@brettwhittlesey6862]

The first responder should have told everybody to haul ass don't stop don't turn around just haul ass I would much rather drive through the flaming front then shelter in place and burn to death doing nothing sometimes you have to ignore what the police or firefighters tell you and use your own common sense

[@brettwhittlesey6862]

Just like during 9/11 when dispatchers and emergency personnel or telling people to stay where they are everything will be fine don't run just walk and etc sometimes first responders get a lot of people killed because they are on a power trip so use your own judgment and common Sense

[@brettwhittlesey6862]

What I am saying is haul ass

[@getschwifty5271]

Its easy to look back & judge, this fire was an absolute monster. It moved an entire FOOTBALL FIELD PER SECOND. At the time these emergency responders didnt know that fact. And when they sheltered at the Ace Hardware store it was because at that point their escape was blocked. They were completely surrounded by massive walls of flames 2/4 stories high.

[@getschwifty5271]

Its not about being on some grand power trip. Both this fire & 9/11 were unprecedented events. You can sit at home, in your comfy chair w ac blowing & its very easy to make judgements against people in these moments. You should actually put your blame & anger towards PG&E, the gas and electric company that caused this fire due to negligence. No one would have guessed or knew those two towers would collapse as they did. No one would have known how fast this fire was raging. Everyone was taken off guard because the fire line was nowhere near Paradise & seemingly out of nowhere people are calling in to 911 saying Paradise is bursting into flames. Evacuation orders came quick, but the fire came faster. Emergency responders going into these neighborhoods to evacuate suddenly found themselves & everyone with them in a life or death battle.

[@paulsmallriver6066]

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things

[@jameshunt995]

I remember setting on Bushmen in my truck and I was calling friends and family letting them know that I love them because I know I was going to die that day

[@robertwolfiii8711]

Oh man that's sad though

[@wethepeople7629]

This is the worse fire I’ve seen in modern history!!!

[@justanothermedic953]

Respect guys, stay safe #bluelivesmatter

[@qaiser648]

Looooooool

[@justanothermedic953]

@@qaiser648?

[@Mimimocool]

number one reason i dont live in california

[@kwick2204]

Too bad that happen God knows best.....🙄

[@the__source]

The truth is, Cal Fire didn't respond for over an hour to reports of the fire because they intended for it to get big

[@robertwolfiii8711]

That is what it looks like to evacute

[@christmastownyeararound2947]

They work with my dad

[@christmastownyeararound2947]

I got stuck and I lost my cat

[@christmastownyeararound2947]

I saw that

[@ChevyHarris07]

suprised pg&e still exist

[@我是甲甲-b5s]

No it Bankruptcy

[@claytonduke8964]

Let’s have more road diets in California. Dah!

[@daddad1062]

Too many liberal tree hungers are the people who should live in these areas. Sign a consent stating that you don’t want brush clearance and you are responsible for your property burning down. You also need to refuse help because that puts firefighters in too much danger that you started.

[@qaiser648]

What?

[@jalifritz8033]

Liberals aren’t responsible for the fires.

[@nala3038]

U don’t know what you’re talking about. Resume your video game in mommy’s basement!

[@AM01062]

Gg

[@Imnotokay2024]

I almost died we lost our home i was in the fire it was 2blocks from my house