Donna and Mike McKendry (pictured above on Facebook) were stunned to find prized possessions in debris of their home after the California wildfire
A couple whose home was destroyed in the California Thomas Fire discovered their most prized possessions after returning to their charred street.
Donna and Mike McKendry, of Ventura, lost nearly all of their belongings in the fire that started Monday night and forced thousands of residents to evacuate since.
The couple made their way back to what they once referred to as their ‘dream home’ located on Skyview Terrace Wednesday – when they stumbled upon wedding rings in the dirt that belonged to Donna’s late mother.
‘I found my mom’s original wedding rings. I’m really glad,’ Donna cried, while speaking with Fox 11 at the home.
‘It’s not in great condition, but I’m gonna have it for the rest of my life,’ she added.
Devastating video footage shared to Donna’s Facebook page Thursday shows clear views of the ruin.
Even thought the couple lost most of their belongings, they stumbled upon Donna’s mother’s wedding rings in the dirt
‘It’s not in great condition, but I’m gonna have it for the rest of my life,’ Donna said of the finding
The couple made their way back to what they once referred to as their ‘dream home’ located on Skyview Terrace Wednesday
The heartbroken family sorted through the rubble they once referred to as their beloved home
‘So, here’s our home,’ Donna sighed as she walked around the place. ‘Pretty amazing. Total devastation. Our garage, our palm tree, my office, Mike’s work shed is gone,’ she said.
‘Very ironically, the little two seats that Mike and I always sat at to have a cocktail and look at the view are still sitting there.
‘There’s the dining room and kitchen (gone). Our stove … there’s the living room, our beautiful fire place. It’s just so hard to believe.’
‘There’s the dining room and kitchen (gone). Our stove … there’s the living room, our beautiful fire place. It’s just so hard to believe,’ Donna said
Donna and Mike searched through he rubble to find the rings and two chairs they sat at to watch the sunset from
The couple isn’t giving up – and revealed their plans to rebuild the home and help neighbors
Donna revealed the remainder of homes in Skyview Terrace were ‘wiped out’ and the area looked like a ‘war zone.’
But the family isn’t giving up – and plan to rebuild the home and help other residents in need.
‘What was important before, isn’t so much now. It puts things into a new perspective,’ Donna told the news station.
‘Right now, we’re just trying to grasp the whole situation,’ Donna said of the sudden disaster
Donna said all of the homes in Skyview Terrace were also ‘wiped out’ and the area as a whole looked like a ‘war zone’
‘There’s a time for crying and a time for laughing,’ said Mike. So, just, mix ’em together,’ Mike said.
‘Right now, we’re just trying to grasp the whole situation,’ Donna added.
Request for further comment from the Daily Mail to the family could not be immediately returned Thursday morning.
The couple are pictured together smiling months before the California wildfire swept their home