Father writes touching letter, letting daughter know childhood home burned down in CZU Complex Fire

DAVENPORT, Calif. (KGO) -- A Santa Cruz County man whose family lost everything in the CZU Complex Fire decided to write a touching letter to his daughter, letting her know her childhood home had burned down.

It was hard to ask Wallace J. Nichols to read his letter out loud. To read it on your own is enough to feel his deep love and sadness for the home he built for his family, just north of Davenport.

RELATED: Check if your home was damaged by CZU, LNU Complex Fires in Santa Cruz, Napa, Solano, Lake counties

But, he obliged, fighting through tears. He said he hopes his words might inspire others who lost their homes to cherish their memories and remind them that despite the ruins, a home can be carried with you, forever.

VIDEO: Wallace J. Nichols reads letter he wrote, letting daughter know their home burned down

Nichols hopes his words might inspire others who lost their homes to cherish their memories and remind them that despite the ruins, a home can be carried with you, forever.

Here's Nichols' letter reprinted in full:

My Dearest Wallace Grayce,

We built your home around you when you were still inside your mother.

We built it stronger and more sturdy than it needed to be. I thought a lot about every piece of wood and stone. Every knob and switch. We filled it with our books, musical instruments, and interesting animal bones. I imagined you looking down after a bath through the railing upstairs.

People who visited always asked about the overbuilt stoutness and soulfulness of our home. I always said that I built this house around my baby girl to protect and raise her, and her sister, to be strong and healthy. I hoped that it would instill a sense for natural quality, authenticity, and design.

Your house in the redwoods, by the creek and ocean, lasted nearly 19 years.

It survived fires, droughts, floods, and earthquakes. It also survived some of our great parties, our friends' weddings, holiday gatherings, and many sleepovers.

It held thousands of visitors, beautiful music, salmon dinners, and rich, deep conversations. You were there for it all.

I had hoped that it would be yours someday and I was working hard to keep it.

The day after you left for college, it burned to the ground in a wildfire caused by lightning in the most beautiful storm I have ever seen. I believe it served its original purpose fully and completely.

All that remains standing is the chimney and fireplace that warmed us as we slept-it was built tall of stone to last for millennia.

You are strong, thanks to this home. You carry the memories of our canyon. You are made of Mill Creek water, the fruit from our trees, Swanton berries, and Pacific salmon. You are my wild child.

I am so proud of you. I wish I could have protected our home from the fires. But I couldn't and I didn't.

But please carry the sweet memories with you wherever you go.

Stay safe, study hard, and come home often for hugs. Please.

I love you, peanut.
Dad

If you would like to see more on Nichols' work click here.

App users: For a better experience, click here to view the full map in a new window

RELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:

• Track wildfires across Bay Area with this interactive map
• Here are all the fires burning in the Bay Area right now
• Latest on LNU, CZU and SCU Complex Fire evacuations, road closures
• WATCH: Staggering footage shows lightning storm that started complex fires
• Photos show scope of Bay Area wildfires' devastation
• Track air quality levels in the Bay Area
• How LNU, CZU & SCU Lightning Complex Bay Area fires got their names
• How to prepare for a wildfire evacuation
• Most destructive California wildfires in history
• Camp Fire is deadliest wildfire in California history
• How are wildfires started? A look at the causes of some of the worst in California history
• Safety tips to remember when returning home after wildfire
• VIDEO: How to prepare your pets in case of disaster
• The difference between containing and controlling a wildfire
• How wildfire smoke can impact your health
• What's in wildfire smoke? How it can impact your health