UPDATE: Survivors of the devastating Camp Fire that ravaged Paradise, California, on November 8, 2018, share chilling accounts of their near-death experiences as flames rained down around them. Angie and Jeff Dodge, who thought they were facing certain death, vividly recollect the chaos as they fled the inferno that left 86 people dead and destroyed over 19,000 homes.
On the morning of the fire, Angie received a frantic call from a neighbor at 6:30 AM, alerting her to an ominous orange glow beyond their home. “We went outside and thought it was raining because it sounded like rain falling down. But when we put our hands out, it was ash falling,” Angie recalled. The couple, seasoned in emergency preparedness, faced a catastrophic situation as the fire surged forward, fueled by winds reaching 70 miles per hour.
Amid the chaos, the Dodges faced horrific decisions. As evacuation routes became gridlocked, they contemplated abandoning their vehicles to seek shelter under a trailer. “I texted my boys, ‘I love you with all my heart and soul,’” Angie said, her voice trembling with emotion. The couple shared a moment of panic when they realized they might not survive the oncoming blaze.
In a desperate attempt to escape, they witnessed a “fire-nado” erupting around them, causing them to turn back into heavy traffic. “It was just unimaginable,” Angie said, remembering how an empty school bus passed them as they sat stuck in their truck. She offered to help the bus driver, Kevin McKay, who was headed to rescue trapped children. Ultimately, she chose to stay with Jeff, but McKay was hailed a hero for his brave actions.
Despite their harrowing escape, the couple’s ordeal was far from over. After an arduous eight hours, they finally made it to safety, but they lost everything. “We were prepared, but you can never prepare enough,” Angie reflected. They initially moved in with their son in nearby Chico, where acts of kindness from strangers helped them cope, including a quilt gifted by a neighbor.
The aftermath of the Camp Fire forced the Dodges to search for a new home, facing intense competition as families displaced by the fire flooded the housing market. “Prices were going up like $10,000 a week,” Angie noted, reflecting on the challenges they faced in finding a place to live.
Now residing in Lewiston, Angie continues to advocate for community emergency planning, driven by her traumatic experiences. “I just want to help one person if I could just help with one person,” she said, as she grapples with PTSD from that fateful day.
The Camp Fire stands as a stark reminder of nature’s ferocity, and the Dodges’ story is a testament to resilience in the face of unspeakable tragedy. As survivors like Angie and Jeff share their experiences, they hope to educate others on the importance of preparedness and response in emergency situations.
Stay tuned for more updates on survivor stories and ongoing recovery efforts in the wake of the Camp Fire.
