The Camp Fire has already destroyed more than 6,000 buildings and 29 lives in Northern California, making it the most destructive and deadliest wildfire in the state's history. Hundreds of thousands of people have left their homes behind, including a couple with strong central Arkansas ties.
Vernon Mayer is a Cabot High School graduate who worked for the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office, Beebe Police Department and North Little Rock Police Department. He and wife Nikole moved to Paradise, California earlier this year. The Mayers are among thousands who have lost nearly everything they own in the fire.
"I just feel blessed we made it safely," Nikole said.
As her husband worked out-of-town and the fire began to spread on Thursday, Nov. 8, Nikole decided to evacuate. She rushed home from work that morning to get their dog & cat, important documents and several days worth of clothes.
"There was ash and debris flying around," Nikole said. "The smoke was getting worse. There were flames the next street over. I ran, got everything out, locked everything up and hoped for the best," she said.
On Friday, a highway patrol officer confirmed the couple's house burned to the ground. A friend who returned to the area on Sunday sent them photos of the destruction.
"You can't grasp the reality of the situation until it affects you personally," Vernon said.
The Mayers are now staying at a hotel about two hours from Paradise. Unable to work, and with little more than the clothes on their back, friends in Arkansas set up a GoFundMe page to help with recovery expenses.
"We're trying to secure somewhere to stay closer to work," Vernon said. "Obviously the hotels are very, very expensive, gas is expensive, food is expensive -- besides the fact that neither one of us have more than a week's clothing," he said.
Among those clothes is an Arkansas Razorbacks shirt Vernon wore on Sunday.
"I just so happen to grab this Arkansas Razorbacks shirt," Nikole said. "[I] have this Hog shirt on. It's the only thing Arkansas I have left," Vernon said.
While replenishing their Razorback supply is something the Mayers would like to do eventually, they are first focused on securing a safe and stable place to stay.
"We're just very thankful for the love and support from Arkansas we love our Razorbacks and we never forget our home," Vernon said.
The Mayers said it could be December before they're able to return to the place where their house once stood.