A North Texas couple faces devastation as wildfires ravage their California home

California: The wildfires near Los Angeles have been brutal. Sadly, at least 13 lives have been lost, and the destruction is staggering.
Over 39,000 acres have burned, and more than 12,000 homes are gone. Around 150,000 people have been forced to leave their homes.
Lauren and Christopher Fordinal, who used to live in Plano and Midlothian, are feeling the impact. They thought they were living the dream in Altadena, raising their two little girls.
But when the Eaton fire got too close, Christopher woke Lauren up to evacuate. They had packed their bags, but it was just a couple of days’ worth of clothes. They thought they’d be back soon.
They evacuated to a friend’s place, hoping for the best. But just a few hours later, they had to leave again.
The next day, they were allowed back into their neighborhood. What they found was heartbreaking: every single home on their street had burned down.
It was their first home, a fixer-upper filled with memories. Lauren recalled all the little things they had done to make it special for their girls.
“We’ve cried a lot,” she said. “But our community has been amazing. Our church, my coworkers, and even a GoFundMe have helped us so much.”
Luckily, they have insurance, but many others in California are not so fortunate. The losses are in the billions.
Christopher urged people to support local charities that are helping those in need. “There’s so much need everywhere,” he said. “It’s heartbreaking.”
As for what’s next, the couple is uncertain. Rebuilding Altadena could take years, and support will be needed long after the fires are out.
Christopher is involved with Serve Ministries, which is helping victims. They’re doing their best to navigate this tough time.