Lompoc Firefighters search for remains in Paradise fire aftermath

After Campfire fires spread across Paradise, California officials needed help to deal with the aftermath. Local Lompoc firefighters were up to the task.

Paradise was once a beautiful rustic forest town, now know for the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in state history. To date, the death toll is 88 and thousands are still missing. It was those still missing that Paradise officials called out to get help finding.

Lompoc fire departments, Captain Scott Nunez, put together a team of two firefighters along with himself and went to Paradise to help.

“The town is devastated there are numerous buildings that are gone, ” said Nunez. Nunez and his team spent 9 days in Paradise.

“My job was to coordinate the search process….to grid the area out and to mythologically search through the structures and look for any survivors, ” said Nunez.

But Nunez says no survivors were found. But that the bodies they uncovered gave fire victim families the confirmation they feared.

“We were able to provide closure to numerous families, and to help them out in that way, ” said Nunez.

While Nunez and his team were in Paradise they stayed in a fire campsite set up for all those fighting the fire and helping its aftermath.

“It’s basically a little city and has everything the fire department needs..everyone on the fire have what they need, ” noted Nunez.

If any of the firefighters have relatives or friends in the area they often take them in. And lucky for Nunez and his team they met a local Chico firefighter from Lompoc who showed them a lil hometown love arranging homes for them to stay in.

Captain Scott Nunez – Lompoc Fire Department
“He definitely helped us out and made a couple of phone calls and helped us stay dry and warm, ” boasted Nunez.