Roughly 80-percent of homeowners have done so, and probably more, now, based on the line outside county offices.
George Sprague signed. He lost his house at 93. "How do you begin again?" I asked, and then shot this photo. His son, Mike, will get him through. George is a tough man. #sonomastrong #sonomafires #abc7now pic.twitter.com/aXEkgzKNxw
— Wayne Freedman (@WayneFreedman) November 13, 2017
Every person walking through the office door has a story to tell of a home lost, a pet lost, and in some cases, loved ones lost.
The office on 5th Street in Santa Rosa is packed. Everyone is telling his or her story. #sonomastrong #sonomafires #abc7now pic.twitter.com/FMIxq6Oy96
— Wayne Freedman (@WayneFreedman) November 13, 2017
The telling by victims and the listening by volunteers has become an unofficial part of the process.
Like George Sprague, who clutched the papers he signed allowing crews to clear his property. But how does a man pick up and begins again at 93, even a youngish 93.
Tears welled in his eyes. He looked away. George isn't sure, yet, but his son, Mike, will get him through.
Byron and Joanne Bartlett took the surprise prize on Monday. They walked in carrying the remains of their living trust, which during the fire, had also been a burning trust.
From ashes to hope. A burned living trust, found in #coffeypark.
— Wayne Freedman (@WayneFreedman) November 13, 2017
It's all the Bartlett's found...a miracle. #abc7now #sonomafires #sonomaStrong pic.twitter.com/8EgZ6jUxKF
It's the only item of value they could save from the ruins of their home in Coffey Park. Joanne needed to open the pages by using a tweezer.
From ashes, now they have a foothold on hope.
After leaving the office, ABC7 News visited the Bartlett's "former address," as Joanne calls it, and found a sign placed a sign out front behind the remnants of a white picket fence.
They're filling out the forms to have the sight of their former home cleared.
— Wayne Freedman (@WayneFreedman) November 13, 2017
The one with the sign behind what remains of a white picket fence, thanking firefighters for trying. #abc7now #coffeypark #sonomafires #SonomaStrong Click to read. pic.twitter.com/rg5XP262YC
It reads, "Firefighters, thank you for trying."
Wow. #sonomafires #coffeypark #sonomastrong #abc7now pic.twitter.com/iILdm5CXxR
— Wayne Freedman (@WayneFreedman) November 13, 2017