x
Breaking News
More () »

Akron native loses home in Camp wildfire in California

In the small town of Paradise, California, 29 people have lost their lives after wildfire that has been spreading uncontrollably across the northern part of the state.

MAGALIA, Calif. – In the small town of Paradise, California, 29 people have lost their lives after wildfire that has been spreading uncontrollably across the northern part of the state. And those fortunate enough to escape with their lives have nothing else – thousands of homes burned to the ground leaving many homeless.

Katina Scalia is an Akron native who moved to Magalia, California just 6 years ago. She’s experiencing the tragedy that comes with wildfire, losing everything she owns in less than an hour.

Scalia left for school around 7:15 a.m. along with her fiancé, Paul Dillon Orlando, and their 3-year-old daughter, Adalynn. She saw smoke in the distance, but it was pretty far away – so she thought.

“By 8:15 I had gotten a phone call from one of my girlfriends saying I needed to try to get back to my house to save my dogs,” said Scalia. “The whole town was on fire.”

She rushed back but wasn’t allowed entry into her town with police blocking the way. Fortunately, her dogs were rescued by neighbors who broke a window to gain entry to her home.

That would be the last time anyone would see her home as it was consumed by flames from a wildfire that was moving more than 80 football fields per minute at times.

Thankful her family survived, Scalia’s heart is heavy knowing there are still many people who haven’t been accounted for.

And while she knows many things can be replaced, there are certain things in her home that can’t be replicated.

“It’s so hard,” Scalia said of the situation. “My dad passed away in 2016 and I had a lot of stuff of his in my house. And then all my daughters baby stuff, her baby pictures. Luckily, I have some that are digital obviously from my phone.”

There are also framed newspapers referencing her dad’s restaurant along with a special knife collection he used as a chef – gone.

For now, Scalia, her family, and thousands of others are homeless. Scalia is temporarily living with friends as thousands in her area are looking for a place to relocate. But there aren’t many options out there.

The process of rebuilding will be a long one. How do you start? With family, of course.

Scalia’s family in Akron moved quickly to start a GoFundMe page to help Scalia her get by for the time-being. Already, more than $3,000 have been raised. It’s not much monetarily, but it means so much emotionally.

“I’ve always known that my family and friends back in Cleveland and Akron are amazing,” said Scalia. “I’ve always had their support. Really, I’m so blessed that I have those people.”

So, what’s next? For Scalia, she’s already back to work at a vet clinic that’s been certified to help rescue livestock that are still in harm’s way. She’ll be working ahead of the emergency personnel that she says deserve the praise of the community they’re trying so hard to defend.

“Firefighters, emergency personnel, the nurses, all the volunteers that are helping out -- we can’t thank them enough,” she said. “I just don’t think that people realize that not only are these people risking their lives, but most of them lost their homes as well.”

For them and everyone affected, Scalia is asking those around the country for prayer.

“I ask for people to just send out positive energy towards us."

Before You Leave, Check This Out