The Williams family is devastated that the California wildfires destroyed their home of more than 50 years in Altadena, but they remain optimistic.
“It’s a blessing that we’ve been able to all stay together through this,” Krystal Williams said on Good Morning America. “Because I don’t know what I would do without them. It’s a blessing.”
Thousands of people have been displaced by the wildfires in California, including the Williams, who completely lost four of their houses.
“We expected to come back home,” Matilda Williams recounted. “I guess it was about 3:30 in the morning that alert went off on your phone and it said, ‘Rapid moving fire, evacuate immediately.'”
After the devastating Eaton Fire ripped through Altadena, just north of Pasadena, Matilda Williams’ home was destroyed, leaving just her front door.
“You look at these homes, and they represent the people that you knew,” Krystal Williams added. “So you see their loss just like you see yours. My neighbor Kenneth is not next door [anymore]. Victoria is not next door. It brings you to a space thinking, where are they? Are they OK? Because we could always count on them being here when we got home.”
Though 17 of the Williams family members are currently homeless and staying in a hotel, they are still finding hope amid the long road ahead.
Matilda Williams expressed, “We are so blessed, because we could have been in that house.”
“God is still watching over us regardless of all this stuff.”
Meanwhile, the family has received $65,000 in donations. DoorDash gave a $25,000 gift card, Thrive Market gave $15,000, and 84 Lumber gave $25,000 to help the family progress.
“The generosity is overwhelming. We are a family of givers and carers and we care for so many,” said Eshele Williams. “As we give, it’s OK for us to receive. We are really grateful.”
At least 27 people have been killed in the wildfires in Los Angeles County and approximately 82,000 people are still under mandatory evacuation orders and another 90,000 are under evacuation alerts.
The flames, which were driven by terrible drought conditions and strong winds, have already burned tens of thousands of acres and are only partially contained.
