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Family displaced by California wildfire gets special surprise in Vegas

Posted at 6:33 PM, Jan 03, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-04 01:24:31-05

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Northern California wildfires have displaced thousands of people, including one family now living in Las Vegas.

Thursday, Blake and Georgie Donald got a special surprise. The Donalds' were living in Paradise, Calif., the town decimated by the Camp Fire.

As the flames closed in on their home, they tried to run but are disabled.

So instead, they sheltered in place and luckily managed to call emergency crews, and 45 minutes later the U.S. Forest Service rescued them.

The two were able to drive away and shelter near a Wal-Mart in Chico. But they realized they had lost everything.

They are now living with family in Las Vegas until they can find a permanent place to live. But it's some of the little things they miss. One of them, Georgie mentioned to her husband was getting her nails done.

Enter Karen Aguirre, the owner of Nails Envie, runs a mobile salon catering to the homebound, disabled, and people in the hospital who can't access a salon.

A few weeks ago, she appeared on 13 Action News to talk about her contest that was offering a free year of nails to someone deserving.

Blake happened to be watching and wrote an email nominating his wife. Their story touched Karen's heart, and she chose them as her winner.

"I believe it was a godsend I saw that segment when I did," Blake said.

As for Georgie, she hopes a little pampering will help give her a fresh start.