On Sunday around 10 o’clock in the evening 65-year-old Yang Pasco came out on the porch of his home in Santa Rosa, CA. She wanted to see the moon and check out how to grow her tomatoes. It was a beautiful October night. The sky was clear.
Stepping out of the shower, she smelled smoke. Her 70-year-old husband John went outside to check if there’s a fire somewhere nearby. At first it seemed to him that he sees some flames, but it was the moon.
«Earlier we were faced with a fire, – said Yang, who in June retired from Sonoma Country Day School. But there was always the question of how far it is?»
Not knowing that was trapped in a forest fire and not getting an official warning, the pair quietly went to bed.
The middle of the night the phone rang. It was their eldest daughter Zoe Zhirodo, who called from San Francisco. She said that just 40 miles away, the fire is already raging, they need to evacuate.
After the second call Zoe around midnight, the couple realized that they urgently need to get out. «I looked out the window, – said Ian – and all I saw was glowing red».
Californian couple survived in a pool for six hours as wildfire destroyed everything around them https://t.co/F4w9QGTR89 pic.twitter.com/zTAvfReGh0
— Bobby Hamilton (@BobbyHny) October 13, 2017
At 00:40, Yang managed to call 911 and contact the Manager.
«We’re going to get into the neighbor’s pool, we should do it?» — said Ian on the phone.
The dispatcher said, «Go to any safe place.»
«Please. We will be in the pool,» said Yang.
«In their naivety throughout the night — she said later — I thought that someone will come for us.»
Then she grabbed the 17-year-old cat and ran to his car, but John quickly jumped in the truck. While the pair drove down the highway, they saw only a solid wall of flame.
Ian and John drove up to the house. When Yang opened the door of his car, the cat jumped out, and since then, nothing about her is unknown.
Then they saw the approaching flames.
«We were in survival mode — told Ian about his feelings at the time. — What do we do? What do we do?»
When they stood at the edge of the pool, the neighbors ‘ house caught fire. A huge tree next to them broke out.
«The heat was unbearable,» — said John. He took off his pants and jacket and dressed only in a t-shirt, turned to Ian and said, «Jump now.»
Devastating Video Shows Mail Being Delivered in the Santa Rosa Neighborhood Destroyed by Fire: WATCH https://t.co/fP7XZRcsdd via @tlrd #lgbt pic.twitter.com/hC60wfWtWO
— BЯΣƬ (@crewislife) October 13, 2017
The husband and wife plunged into the blackened, debris-filled water. They pulled on their faces, Mikey, to protect your face from the coals. Then he moved deeper into the pool, away from the burning house.
Despite the hellish heat around them, the water was very cold. To stay warm, Ian and John were keeping each other warm. According to them, the moment they spoke of their deep love for each other and for your family.
Man and woman waited until the house burns down to bask on the concrete steps. The wind howled, and suddenly heard the sound of explosions. What it was, they had no idea.
Ian before you go down to the pool, put your phone in the boot that was left on the edge. When she is through time and looked in the direction the shoes were melted.
Wife of Pasco were in the pool for about six hours. When the worst seemed over, John went up to look at their home. He saw nothing, everything was destroyed.
Photos from my friend trying to get out of Santa Rosa fire an hour ago. 😱😰 grid locked traffic; haven’t heard from her since; can’t sleep. pic.twitter.com/rSGAHuMVVO
— Jessica Parr (@JessicaLynnParr) October 9, 2017
Their home in the form of a boat was on top of the mountain. He was filled with tens of pictures of John, who worked as an artist. Each room was designed as a reminder of the places they traveled. Their bedroom was inspired by the housing in which they lived on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand. Strong roof, from which a spectacular view of the hills, was the site of countless parties for nearly four decades.
In the night of Sunday, 38-year-old Zoe and her sister, 32-year-old MIA, spent the agonizing hours – they called the local hospitals, shelters, friends and relatives.
At 7 am Zoe looked at her husband and said, «do you think they died? I think I need to prepare for this?»
Half an hour later, the sisters learned that their parents are alive.
«I started screaming, said Zoya. – Mom’s first words were: «I’m so sorry I couldn’t contact you.»
Now Ian and John in order. The only hint of what recently happened to them, was the color of the feet of the John, which are still stained with soot. During the story about what happened that night, John’s eyes were periodically filled with tears. The depth of their loss no one can understand but themselves.
