Camp Fire Survivor Sees Destroyed Home for the First Time
A resident returns to Paradise, California and witnesses the Camp Fire's destruction firsthand.
As the embers are starting to cool, George Gold heads through town to see if there is anything worth salvaging at home. When he gets there, he sees the destruction the Camp Fire left behind.
Camp Fire Survivor Sees Destroyed Home for the First Time
Published: May 13, 2019
Narrator: The Camp Fire is still burning. But in Paradise, embers are starting to cool. George Gold is headed through town on his way to Magalia just to the north. It’s time to see if there is anything worth salvaging at home.
George Gold: This was my neighborhood. This was my neighborhood. And there’s nothing left. There’s, there’s no neighborhood here. There’s just debris.
I mean, it was gorgeous here, just gorgeous, peaceful, quiet. My shed’s there, so I can do my gardening. This was my front door, right here. Open the door.
I mean, I never considered myself a materialistic person. I mean, if you went in my house, you would say “Gee, you’re kind of living a Spartan life,” right? No fancy stuff, just basic stuff. But the stuff I had, I loved it, right? Every time I walked in the door, I’d think, “Oh, wow, this is my house. I’ve made it, I’m in heaven.” And I have all these toolboxes, you know? I spent 30 years gathering tools. Here we go. They may live again, maybe. I think not.
It’s really hard. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to think. I have never experienced anything like this. I don’t know what to think. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to feel.
I don’t know. I’m no youngster anymore. I don’t, I don’t know if I’ll ever recover.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Inside the Megafire
Produced by: Will Toubman
Produced and Edited by: Brian Truglio
Produced and Directed by: Miles O'Brien
Digital Producer: Emily Zendt
© WGBH Educational Foundation 2019
