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North Texas natives lose home in California wildfires
A couple with roots in North Texas lost everything when their home in California was caught in the crosshairs of the deadly wildfires in the southern part of the state.
A couple who grew up in North Texas is picking up the pieces after losing their home to the California wildfires.
What we know:
Christopher and Lauren Fordinal and their two kids rushed to evacuate as fire crept up on their Altadena, California home.
The Fordinals are seen outside their California home. The family was forced to evacuate when wildfires threatened and ultimately destroyed their home.
The Fordinals thought they were in the clear since the Eaton fire appeared to be moving away from their home, but then the winds pushed the fire into there neighborhood and in a matter of hours, it was in flames.
The Fordinals returned home and found nothing salvageable.
Some rubble and a chimney are all that remains of the Fordinals' California home. The couple were forced to evacuate after the wildfires threatened and ultimately destroyed their home.
What they're saying:
"We were technically, weren't in an evacuation," Christopher Fordinal said. "We saw it before it was ever reported. I saw it as the firefighters were coming up, and so I called her. I said, ‘don’t freak out, but go get the girls.'"
That's when Lauren Fordinal left with their daughters and Christopher grabbed what he could from their home.
"If I could go back, I would have filled trash bags and suitcases worth of two weeks of things," Lauren Fordinal said. "Like both baby mobiles that people had made me that were homemade, I mean, sentimental things that I'll never, ever be able to get back."
When the fire was put out, the North Texas natives drove back to the home and found only a chimney was left.
Since losing their home, the Fordinals say they are grateful for all the support they've received from their local community in California and their family and friends in Texas.
"I think the beautiful side of it truly has just been, holy cow, this, like people are loving," Christopher Fordinal said. "Yes, you're going to see the negative side of mankind, but like you're seeing so many people show up and love on, and care for, and yeah, and cherish those who are struggling right now."
What's next:
Dallas Fire Rescue and multiple other agencies from around the state are going to California to help fight the wildfires.
DFR Assistant Chief Scott Pacot said they were sending six firefighters to help out.
"We have four firefighters on the wildland aspect of the fire suppression, and two with the emf, with EMS and medical support," Pacot said. "So, six total from Dallas ourselves that are tied to other strike teams."
The crews will be there to assist where their needed, whether that's with putting out the fires, rotating in for crews so local firefighters can get rest or helping with 911 services.
"What can we do to help? And that's really what we got the opportunity to do," Pacot said. "To be able to answer."
Big picture view:
The Los Angeles area is grappling with a fifth day of wildfires after a massive flare-up of the Palisades fire forced more evacuations Friday night.
The Palisades and Eaton wildfires have killed at least 16 people, the Los Angeles Medical Examiner said Saturday evening, and destroyed some 12,000 structures as of Friday. Evacuation orders were lifted in some areas as firefighters make progress on the Kenneth, Hurst and Lidia fires.
Palisades Fire
The Palisades Fire was 11% contained as it burned for a fifth day Saturday. More than 23,000 acres have been burned.
More than 3,000 fire personnel are battling the blaze. At least five people were killed.
More than 5,000 structures were estimated or reported to be destroyed, including automobiles. At least 426 of those were homes. More than 100,000 people have been displaced.
Eaton Fire
The deadly Eaton fire was 15% contained as of Saturday afternoon. Officials said more than 7,000 structures are damaged or destroyed.
More than 14,000 acres have burned.
At least 11 people were killed, according to the LA Medical Examiner.
The Source: Information in this article come for interviews with FOX 4's Amelia Jones and previous FOX reporting.