We've learned that the Hawk Fire destroyed 47 homes and damaged 14 more. Some of those are in the Peppermint Drive area of Stead, just down the street from other homes left untouched.
Janitza Santos vividly remembers the moment her family got the notification to evacuate.
“We didn't think that the fire was going to get really close to our house because it was on the other side of the mountain,” she says, “and we wouldn't think it would get over to the freeway, but it was really traumatizing."
Down the street, Jennifer Bryant rushed to get her son, dog, three cats, and whatever else would fit into the car.
But her husband stayed behind.
“My husband stayed up until right at the very last moment, watering everything down just to hopefully to save something,” Bryant says.
Meanwhile Santos and her family made it out of the neighborhood. But then, their neighbors called.
An old woman was stuck in her garage with no power. Santos and her father rushed back twice to save her and another neighbor.
“It was so bad,” Santos says. “The fire got in our eyes and we couldn't breathe. It was really hard. I was so worried for my dad because he had a heart attack a few years ago."
Both the Bryants and the Santoses made it out safely. When they returned, both found their homes still standing, and the burn scar a stone's throw away.
“It was pure shock, pure emotional tears, everything,” says Bryant of her emotions upon her return. “But happy tears that we still had a house."
"Considering that my parents have been here for over 23 years, I’m just so grateful for, you know, my house is here,” Santos says.
Bryant says she's looking to support her neighbors as much as possible.
“Come to honeysuckle court,” she offers. “We will help out as much as we can. We have food. We have power. We have extra rooms. You can bring your animals. We have room for them too. And if they just need help, if they just need a hug, we're here."
You can help out too. Several GoFundMes are available, and 2 News Nevada is partnering with Reno Media Group for a fund drive to support victims. It’ll be from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the west parking lot of The Atlantis Casino Resort Spa. You can donate cash or checks made out to Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada. Credit card donations can be made online.
