Some homeowners in Ventura County get a glimpse of the remains of their properties after wildfires charred nearly 21,000 acres, destroyed at least 132 structures and damaged 88 others. I was able to do that.
The wildfires, which are still burning, were only 5% contained as of Thursday night.
“Yesterday we watched it burn for three hours,” Tara Wallace, who lives in Camarillo Heights with her husband Brian Wallace, told KTLA. “It was a beautiful house with a beautiful view of a beautiful city, and now it’s reduced to ashes.”
The emergency nature of the wildfires prompted authorities to evacuate more than 400 homes, but many people in the Camarillo Heights neighborhood, where dozens of homes were gutted, have given up.
An old photo of the Wallace home in Ventura County before it was destroyed by wildfire on November 6, 2024. (Viewer photo) A photo of the inside of the Wallace home in Ventura County before it was destroyed by wildfire. (Viewer photo) The tricked out Wallace home destroyed by the Ventura County wildfire on November 6, 2024 Classic Volvo photo. (Viewer photo) Photo of the Wallace family’s home destroyed by wildfire on November 6, 2024. (Viewer photo)
Both musicians, Brian pointed out where a recording studio once stood.
Little of the Wallace family’s midcentury home, where the family lived for more than 60 years, survived the fire, as did other properties on Highland Drive and Old Coach Drive.
Brian and Tara lost all their instruments, their pottery shop, and their classic Volvo.
But amidst the destruction, their pets miraculously survived.
“We have two small chickens and they are doing well in the garage right now,” Tara said.
Some people living near the raging wildfires expressed gratitude that their homes were saved.
“Why is it ours? I don’t know. I’m grateful. I love my home and I love living here, but I don’t know why,” said Kimberly, identified only as Kimberly. one woman told KTLA. “It was just devastating.”
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As for the Wallace family, although they are homeless, they said they are grateful to be able to rely on the community.
“We can’t do this alone,” Brian explained. “We can’t make music alone, we can’t make art alone. This is our community.
A GoFundMe campaign has been organized to help the Wallaces through this difficult time.
