EXCLUSIVE: Santa Barbara Police take 12-year old house fire victim shopping

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - 12 year old Isabella Avila got the surprise of her life when Santa Barbara Police Chief Kelly Gordon and several officers surprised her with a gift basket full of her favorite Harry Potter merchandise.

“We became aware that one of our Pal youth lost everything in a house fire …  so as a group everyone came together to give back to the family," said chief Kelly Gordon of the Santa Barbara Police Department.

The fire started while Isabella and her family were out of town.

“We went to Santa Maria and we got a bunch of calls … like everyone was calling like our phones," said Avila.

They returned to find their house reduced to ashes. 

“My room was like completely full of ash and some of it was burnt down. My mom‘s room is fully gone … my dad‘s and I guess my dad and my mom‘s … my grandpa‘s room … my grandpa‘s room … my brother‘s room … is gone," said Avila.

Fire crews managed to save Isabella’s turtle.

“Well, my turtle was like coughing up black like black water," said Avila.

"She lost things that she had collected since she was a baby … so these memories … her safe space … is gone," said executive director Judie Lugo of the Santa Barbara Police Activities League.

The police officers wanted to help Isabella create new memories.

So, they took her on a shopping spree in downtown Santa Barbara.

They picked out clothes, shoes and other essential items she lost in the fire.

The biggest surprise? Isabelle never thought this catastrophe would strengthen her bond with police. 

And wouldn’t you know it, as a member of the Police Activities League, Isabella wants to become a cop.

“When I was little they asked me to put on a certificate … what I wanted to be … and they like yelled it out there like … police officer … and I was like … OMG," said Avila.

“I don’t see it as them being police officers … I see them as being friends and family for her … and they’re helping their child," said officer Adrian Gutierrez of the City of Santa Barbara.

The SB PAL team hopes teens like Isabella know they can come here any time for support.

“Now they have to rent a studio for the whole family … that’s tough … so anything we can help to alleviate the pain and the struggle I think … we’d be more than glad to," said Gutierrez.

“Means a lot to us to be able to fill her little space in her studio now with all her Harry Potter items that she missed and able to add to it," said Lugo.

And While nothing can bring back all that Isabella lost from the fire, SB PAL and the officers hope the ambitious teen will continue finding strength in what reminds behind.

The fire occurred on Aug. 5 at 805 Orange Ave. on the Lower Westside while Isabella and her family were out of town.

The family was visiting a ranch in Santa Maria at the time with their son and two dogs.