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North Las Vegas woman's family loses everything in Camp Fire

Posted at 5:16 PM, Nov 16, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-16 21:01:50-05

A local woman says her extended family lost everything in one of the destructive wildfires burning in California.

The Camp Fire is the deadliest and most destructive wildfire to hit the state of California on record, killing at least 63 people and destroying over 9,000 homes.

North Las Vegas resident Amanda Marshall knows the pain of what's happened all too well.

Her extended family lived in Paradise for the past 15 years, a town that was destroyed by the fire. Marshall says her family raced out of town as the flames moved in.

“They said it was so scary, they said that their grandson was like, as they were literally driving through the fire was saying it was hot,” says Marshall.

The damage is heartbreaking.

Marshall shared pictures with 13 Action News of the damage to her aunt and cousin's house that both burned to the ground. They all made it out OK and are now staying in the outskirts of town trying to piece their lives back together.

But if you can believe it, tragedy has nearly struck twice for them.

Back in 2007, the Dominguez family went missing for three days as they were stuck in a snowstorm. The story gained nationwide attention at the time. Marshall says they were out looking for a Christmas tree that year when they got caught in the storm.

“They were there with their dad and they said that was the scariest moment of their lives and for something like this to happen again it's crazy.”

Marshall wanted to do something to help her family, and created a GoFundMe.

So far, they’ve raised over $3,000 through donations from the Las Vegas community.

“Everyone’s been pretty sympathetic and supportive we’re just so grateful that everyone’s done so far.”