In Gina’s own words…
 

”It was just another day.  I dropped the kids off at school.

I headed to work as a ‘Lunch Lady’ at Paradise USD Food Services.
 

~I NEVER thought it would be the last time I left the comfort of my home. 

~I NEVER thought it would be the last time I would drive down my road.

~I NEVER thought it would be the last time I would see the many homes around mine.

~I NEVER thought it would be the last time I would see businesses that lined the streets of my beautiful town—Paradise, California.
 

Even when I saw the dark smoke cloud in the sky and ashes and embers blowing all over from the harsh winds, it NEVER crossed my mind that in less than an hour my life would be turned upside down. 
 

Evacuation notices started coming in.  My husband, Zane, worked in Chico, the next town over. Hurriedly, I called him to let him know about a fast moving fire heading towards Paradise. We divided up the tasks that needed to be done. He rushed to pick up our son, Zane, from school. He then headed home to get our animals when he saw the fire, right in front of him. Meanwhile, without knowing the closeness of the fire, I raced to picked up our daughter, Isabelle. And then headed home-- thinking I had time.

 

Traffic was completely jammed up. We inched our way up Clark road. The smoke was getting heavier and heavier. I spoke to my Dad who was stuck at his home trying to get his dog.  He asked if I could help by coming to get him. I couldn’t. Desperately, I yelled for him to get in his car and go-- now. I called Zane who had made it home.  He said there was no time to get anything.  He pleaded for me to just get out of town-- now.
 

Without warning, Flames were everywhere. Traffic was turned back around. As I turned around,

I spotted my mother-in-law, John, her fiancé, and their 93 year old neighbor. They, too, were told to turn around.

 

It hit me like a thunderbolt – ‘We’re trapped in a circle of fire. Flames are everywhere, everywhere.’

I could smell my tires melting.  I could see the flames rolling off my car. As I looked around the other cars, I could see and feel FEAR.

No one knew what to say.  

No one knew what do.  

No one knew where to go.

Repeatedly I told my daughter, who sat so calmly, ‘We are going to be okay’, ‘We are going to be okay’.
 

The sky darkened. We heard Explosion after explosion. A firefighter appeared out of nowhere. He was walking up the road yelling for everyone to get out of their car and run.
 

I grabbed my daughter, my purse and her backpack.  We ran to my mother-in-law.  We all started running down the street. Some people were running for their lives.  Others were giving up falling to the floor.

A firefighter shoved us in a metal building.  He told us it was the safest place to be. Suddenly, the fire was right across the street.
‘Run, Run, Run…Get out of the building’.  We were told to get to our cars or run to the open field behind us.

John and I started to run to get our cars while my daughter stayed with my mother-in-law. I couldn’t leave my baby, instantly, I turned around.

Miraculously, we saw a shuttle bus.  It was full.  We raced to it, anyway.  We had to get my baby girl and our 93-year old neighbor on it. Gratefully, we all squeezed on.
 

This bus driver was our savior. He raced down the road, around the line of strewn cars, and even through the dirt. His mission was clear--GET EVERYONE OUT ALIVE! 
 

While on the bus, no matter how hard I tried,  I couldn’t get a hold of anyone. Due to the fire, Phone services were not working.  Thoughts dashed through my head:

Did my husband and son make it out?

Where’s my Dad? Last I heard, he jumped out of his truck, with his dog, to run for his life.

The pressure was too great, I broke.  All I could do was hold my daughter as tightly as I could.
 

It was around noon yet the sky was as dark as midnight. We could barely make out the street signs to see how far down the road we’d gone.
 

Finally the sky began to reappear. Phones started to work. I made call after call to confirm that my loved ones were safe. Everyone on our bus began thanking the lord.  We embraced each other with love. Although this was the longest ride of my life, Our Bus Driver DID IT.  We Were All Alive!
 

As you read these words, I’M SAFE.
 

Many of my friends and family are, too.  That’s all that matters!

After a month...
~I’m hurting that so many are still missing. 

~I’m hurting for those who suffered injuries.

~I'm hurting for those who lost loved ones.

~I’m hurting for my town which went from Paradise to Hell in an instance. 

Even though my heart is shattered, I grateful to be ALIVE and back at work helping the children of our community!"