Veteran, wife donate everything in house to Camp Fire firefighters who lost homes

close

Video

How the Camp Fire destroyed Paradise, California

Driven by high winds and fueled by dry conditions, what started as a wildland fire became an 'area ignition' event that grew into a 'giant structure fire' in Paradise, says Tim Aboudara of the International Association of Firefighters.

A California couple moving to North Carolina have chosen to leave behind most of their belongings, donating them to firefighters who lost their homes in the deadly Camp Fire.

Kim Ringeisen and his wife, Annette, packed up a 26-foot storage truck with their household goods in the town of Gilroy so they can be used to help dozens of families in need.

PASSENGER CAUGHT SMUGGLING 70 LIVE FINCHES INTO US AT NEW YORK AIRPORT

“We didn’t lose our sentimental things. We didn’t lose something to a fire very abruptly. So, I think it’s good if we can donate everything we have. We’ll start over. They’re starting over. So, I think it’s going to be a good thing, a good memory for us in how we helped,” Kim told KCRA.

Kim, a combat veteran with 15 years of search and rescue experience, saw firsthand the devastation the fire caused on the town of Paradise and the surrounding areas.

“I was searching about 100 homes in Paradise…this was unimaginable. We had to rewrite ways of doing things and figure out new ways to take care of what we need to take care of out there,” he said of their efforts.

Along with the household items, the couple donated homemade toys crafted by Annette.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

“My husband spent many days involved in the recovery efforts, getting to know many of the people who were impacted and lost everything. There is not much I can do, but I decided to donate all dolls, toys, and knitted items that were in the store to the families that were left with nothing,” she wrote on Instagram.