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Thursday, May 16, 2024

Last Chance residents eager to rebuild after CZU Lightning Complex Fire

Credit: KSBW
Duration: 02:50s 0 shares 1 views

Last Chance residents eager to rebuild after CZU Lightning Complex Fire
Last Chance residents eager to rebuild after CZU Lightning Complex Fire

Holiday Smith said although she hasn’t been to her community since the fire tore through the area, she’s heard from witness accounts only two homes are still standing

INVOLVES NOT ONLYMAKIGN SURE THE FIRE ISOUT..BUT INSURING THEPLACES ARE HABITABLE..CLEARING DOWNEDPOWER LINES..

TREESFROM ROADWAYS..AND RE-ENERGIZINGHOMES.THE DEVASTATION OFTHE LAST CHANCECOMMUNITY ...HEARD AND SEEN IN THISHEART-BREAKING VIDEO..37:00 "WE HAVE NEVERSEEN A FIRE LIKE THIS,EVER." HOLIDAY SMITHSAID WITH THEEXCEPTION OF TWOHOMES...HER ENTIRE COMMUNITYBURNT IN THE FLAMES OFTHE CZU LIGHTNINGCOMPLEX FIRE.43:43 "EVERY SINGLEBUILDING IN THECOMMUNITY HAS BEENBURNED.

AS FAR AS WEKNOW." BUT WHAT THEYKNOW..IS BASED ON WITNESSACCOUNTS..AND SHE SAYS THAT'SWHAT'S BEEN SO PAINFUL..41:52 NOT BEING ABLE TOKNOW WHAT'S GOING ON ISVERY DIFFICULT.42:36 I CAN TELL YOU SOFAR, I HAVE NOT TALKED TOA SINGLE MEMBER OF MYCOMMUNITY TAHT IS NOTPLANNING TO REBUILD.

ANDTHAT IS REALLY INSPIRING."THE SHERIFF'S OFFICESAYS THAT CAN'T HAPPENUNTIL THE FIRE IS NOLONGER THREATENINGHOMES..AND POWER AND WATERCAN BE RESTORED TO ALLAFFECTED AREAS..20:32 "WE AWNT TO DO THISSYSTEMATIC.

BUT WE ALSOWANT TO DO SO WHEN IT'SSAFE.

WHEN THERE'SINFRASTRUCTURE THERE TOSUPPORT SAFETY ADNSUPPORT PEOPLE BEINGABLE TO LIVE IN THOSEAREAS." DEPUTY SHERIFFCHRIS CLARK PROVIDEDWHAT HE CALLED AROUGH FRAMEWORK FORTHE REPOPULATIONPLAN..IN AND AROUND SCOTTSVALLEY..IT COULD TAKE QUOTEDAY OR DAYS..FOR AREAS NEAR FELTON.."QUOTE DAYS OR A WEEK"THEN 21:36 " AS YOU GONORTH.

IT'S WEEK TO WEEKSPOTENTIALLY AS YOU GETFURTHER NORTH, AS WEPROGRESS INTO MOREHEAVILY DAMAGED AREAS."WHICH MEANS AT THISPOINT..

FOR THOSE LIKEHOILDAY AND OTHERS INTHE LAST CHANCECOMMUNITY..THERE'S NO DEFINITIVETIMETABLE...TRANSFORMING LASTCHANCE INTO A NEWBEGINNING..43:03 WE'RE ABSOLUTELYPEOPLE WHO BUILD THINGSAND MAEK A LIFE AND MAEKTI WORK.

SO WE'RE READYTO BUILD.WE'RE READY TO BUILD.WE'RE READY TO CLEAN UPAND READY TO BUILD ASSOON AS IT'S SAFE ANDWE'RE REALLY, REALLY EAGERTO DO THAT."AN ANECDOTE -- AND ALESSON -- TODAY FROMTHE SHERIFF'S OFFICE..THEY HAD TO AIRLIFT AMAN IN HIS 70S..AFTER HE TRIEDSNEAKING INTO HISNEIGHBORHOOD GOINGTHROUGH BACKWOODS..AND SUBSEQUENTLY GOTLOST FOR TWO DAYS..LUCKILY..

THE MAN ISOK..BUT THE SHERIFF'SOFFICE SAID IT TOOK ACONSIDERABLE AMOUNTOF RESOURCES LOOKINGFOR HIM..

AND ONEOFFICER WAS INJURED..A REMINDER..

TO STAYOUT OF EVACUATEDAREAS ..

UNTIL GIVENTHE OK ..RIGHT NOW--THESEARCH CONTINUES TOFIND THREE MEN

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