California wildfires: Navy veteran and mother shares heart-wrenching evacuation from her home and community

When devastation strikes, it often uproots more than just physical homes and structures - it tears apart the very fabric of a community. 

For Sara Trepanier, a Navy veteran, single mother of four and emergency room doctor, the California wildfires reduced her home this week and beloved community to ashes.

"As we watched it, it just rapidly went over the hill. Within 10 minutes, you could see these huge flames," she said.

"The winds were so strong - that's what pushed this to [occur at] a ridiculous pace," she said. 

Originally from North Carolina, Trepanier said she was used to dealing with hurricanes and consulted her neighbors upon leaving with a mutual acknowledgment that areas were evacuating in stages.

"The one thing that we've heard is there have not been fatalities in the Palisades, which shows the community that they know how to do this," she said. "They know that respectfully, let the people who are in the direct line go."

She added, "Our neighbor was the one who has lived there his whole life. He was directing us to hang and see until it was time - and you could see it was coming toward the town," she added.

When they heard the fire had jumped over to their community, the daughter said her heart dropped.

"I get all these texts [from] all my friends. One after the other they are losing their houses."

Only two homes on the family's block survived the fire.

Through tear-filled eyes, the daughter shared her admiration for her mom, reflecting on her resilience and describing how her mother remained calm and decisive.

A fundraiser has been set up by a friend of the family's on GoFundMe entitled "Sara's home was completely lost in the CA fires."