On August 2, 2023, Kern County saw several wildfires and brushfires, one of which cost one family everything when a brushfire in a nearby field spread to their home. The fire engulfed the fence behind the Garcia family home and moved onto their property while the Garcia kids were still inside. 23ABC's Dominique LaVigne spoke with the Garcia family to see how they're coping.
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00:00 We begin with a local family losing everything in a brush fire that spread to their home, burning all the clothes and school supplies they the family bought for back to school.
00:08 23 ABC's Dominique Lavigne spoke to the family about how they plan to recover from the fire.
00:14 Earlier this month, this field caught on fire, engulfing the fence behind me, carrying flames down the back of this neighborhood to the Garcia family home with their kids inside.
00:24 And while the kids were able to make it out safely, they lost everything, including all of their supplies for school.
00:30 It's okay, it's stressing. It kind of sucks too.
00:34 It's very stressful, especially because of all of our clothes. It's kind of like burned.
00:39 We don't really have clothes.
00:41 We have to invest in new things and new backpacks, new things for back to school.
00:46 It's been a stressful time for the Garcia kids who returned to school last week.
00:50 We're trying to get back to school supplies and stuff, but we're also trying to be strong for our parents.
00:56 Is that a lot of pressure?
00:58 Um, yeah.
01:01 Rene Garcia, the homeowner, says he was working when his kids called him about the fire and he rushed home.
01:06 I came from the street when I saw the house and I felt perilous when I saw nothing but the flames and I said, God help us.
01:15 The Garcia family say they lived in their home in East Bakersfield for 16 years, recently paying off the property.
01:21 But they say they hadn't renewed their home insurance at the time of the fire.
01:24 It's like a dream or more like a nightmare you can't think of.
01:28 It's one of those accidents that happens in a moment and life changes.
01:32 Garcia's neighbor, Jasmine, co-saw the fire from her bedroom and immediately sprung into action.
01:37 She says the unkept field concerned neighbors even before a fire broke out.
01:41 Adding she hopes to see the county do more in East Bakersfield to take care of dry fields like the one behind her house to prevent something like this from happening again.
01:49 It feels like you'd rather replace something, replace an upgrade like Bakersfield instead of fixing problems and ongoing problems, which is something like this.
02:02 And it's just, it's very hurtful.
02:04 And while we experienced unusual rain and cooling weather with Tropical Storm Hillary, the peak wildfire season continues through late October, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association, with September and October typically experiencing the worst of the season.
02:17 And this burn scar left behind brought even more damage to the home when Tropical Storm Hillary came through on Sunday, causing flooding and water damage to the wood.
02:25 Despite all that, the kids say they're grateful for all the support they've received through the challenges.
02:30 Yeah, I just feel broken inside seeing your house burned down and not being able to do anything about it.
02:35 Rene says he plans to rebuild the home with his brother's help.
02:39 In East Bakersfield, I'm Dominique Lavignier, 23 ABC News, connecting you.