Camp Fire evacuee escapes to Santa Cruz

A Butte County woman now starting over in Santa Cruz after losing her home to the Camp Fire.

“The sky was red, right above the redness was black, solid black, as if there was no moon, no stars on a completely black night, and it was morning,” said Suzan Howard of Paradise.

Suzan Howard told KION she still remembers those terrifying last moments before leaving behind everything she had last week.

“It came up over the ridge, into Paradise, completely burned all of the homes before I even got in the car,” said Suzan Howard, Camp Fire evacuee.

Howard only had time to grab a few important documents, her dog and pictures of her two sons.

“It is all gone and I don’t really want to see it. You know, I don’t want to see it. It is just ash.”

Howard is now settled into her new life at her son Chris’ home in Santa Cruz. She says she is just thankful to be alive.

Howard says she is enjoying the little things such as cooking with her son, his pregnant wife Monica, and their daughter Wren.

“It gives you hope to see the grandchild, the innocence, the sweetness. It puts you toward the future instead of looking backwards, you’re looking forward.”

Although Howard has lost so much, she said she is choosing now to focus on what she does still have and the love and support from her family.