CAMARILLO, Calif. — Al and Phyllis Nordquist lived in the same home on Garrido Drive for 53 years.
It’s where the couple raised their three kids and became empty nesters, grandparents and then great-grandparents. “It was just so peaceful, we thought this is where we want to spend the rest of our life,” Phyllis, 87, said.
But all of it was gone within minutes when the Mountain Fire tore through their neighborhood. The couple rushed to evacuate after a neighbor alerted them that the flames were closing in on their home.
“I said, ‘Well, let me get my Volvo out,’” Al, 89, recalled.
“He said, ‘No. He says, now. It’s going to hit.’ And he was right.”
The Mountain Fire in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles, started Nov. 6 and rapidly grew to nearly 20,000 because of winds. On Monday, it was 98 percent contained, officials said.
Before it was under control, thousands of residents were forced to evacuate and more than 200 structures, including the Nordquists’ home, were destroyed. Nearly all of the couple’s possessions were reduced to ashes.
“Basically, it was our life. Our whole life is right here where we lived,” Al said, standing outside what was left of his property. “I didn’t think, well, what would be left or not be left,” Phyllis said. “I just was hoping, whatever was left, at least, that we’d have pictures or something.”
A bookshelf that held their wedding album remained.© Courtesy Nordquist family
When Al and Phyllis Nordquist returned to their home after evacuating because of the Mountain Fire, most of their possessions had been destroyed.
They were shocked to return home and discover one thing untouched among the rubble: a single bookshelf containing one of their most important possessions — their wedding album.
The fire spared irreplaceable photos from the day they married in 1961 ,a day Al calls “the best day of my life.” “I mean, we were young and in love and the rest of it just didn’t matter to me,” he said.
“I had her and I got the prize.”
For Phyllis, the album serves as a symbol of the life they started together 63 years ago.
And now, in their late 80s, it’s a symbol yet again as they rebuild.
“That was our beginning, and now we’re experiencing a new beginning,” she said.
The home that Al and Phyllis Nordquist lived in for decades was destroyed in Camarillo, Calif., in the Mountain Fire. © Courtesy Nordquist Family
The couple says their faith, love and community — including beloved neighbors who started a fundraiser to help them get back on their feet — will get them through.
“For some reason, I have great peace in my heart and excitement for what’s to come in the future,” Phyllis said. “It’s a place God provided for us,” Al said. “And also, we’re extremely happy to be here and to still own the property and be able to rebuild.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
California couple of 63 years loses nearly everything in Mountain Fire except their wedding album
We are raising money to help our dear neighbors restart and rebuild their lives after losing their homes and everything they had to the Mountain Fire. Four homes on our street burned to the ground, and the homes next door suffered terrible smoke damage.
The money raised here will be split evenly among the Garrido Drive fire victims who could really use some help getting their lives back on track and the neighbors who need help with costly smoke remediation.
The families who need to rebuild are facing a multi-year process with insurance to rebuild and may not receive the full amount they need to repurchase home items, clothes and furniture, and smoke remediation can add up to thousands of dollars and is often not covered fully by insurance.
How a California couple’s love story defied a devastating fire!
Al and Phyllis Nordquist take stock of the damage to their home Camarillo, Calif., which was destroyed in this month’s Mountain Fire. © Courtesy Nordquist Family
Here’s a bit more about our neighbors who lost their homes. Al and Phyllis Nordquist have lived on our street for 55 years and are the original owners of their home. They raised their family there with love and faith and have lost everything. They’re in their late 80’s, but they are determined to rebuild their family house and call Garrido Drive home once again.
Adam and Maddie Zack and their young daughter moved to Garrido Drive three years ago. Adam operates a tugboat, and Maddie grew flowers for her business from the backyard of their house, so losing their home is also losing business and income to their family. Their daughter is just starting school, and she loves Harry Potter and Hello Kitty.
Dick & Sherie Galante have lived in their home, formerly owned by Dick’s parents, since the 1990’s. Dick just returned home from the hospital one month ago from reconstructive gastrointestinal surgery. Their home was their own art gallery with three generations of antiques collected by their families, and more than 300 sculptures made by Sherie’s father, Lou Rankin, a sculptor who made art for the White House and global art events. Those sculptures and memories were all destroyed, but the Galante’s say there is nowhere else they could imagine calling home and are determined to rebuild.
We live across the street from Al & Phyllis and have lived next door to all these families for almost a decade. We launched this fundraiser to help our friends and neighbors start the journey to normalcy because our home was spared. Two thirds of the money from the fundraiser will be given to the families who lost their homes on our street, and the remaining third will be given to any neighbors with smoke or flame damage to their homes that need help reaching their insurance deductible. We plan to run the fundraiser for one month, and dispense checks to our neighbors after 2 weeks and then again at the end of the month!
Show your support for this GoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-our-neighbors-rebuild-after-the-mountain-fire