Camp Pendleton Marine’s home destroyed in California wildfire

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton lost his house in the Airport Fire that has burned more than 23,000 acres in Southern California, and is now seeking donations to help his neighbors and others who lost everything in the fire.

The fire first broke out on September 9, and within just two days, Danny and Rachel Jakle’s first home had burned to ashes.

The fire sent smoke and ash to San Diego County as it burned through Riverside and Orange counties.

Danny and Rachel, originally from Missouri, got married just last August and moved to Southern California for Danny’s orders, buying their first home in El Cariso Village in Riverside County.

They were coming up on one year of living in their first home together when they were forced to pack up everything they could fit in their car and evacuate.

“The adrenaline was pumping, we were shaking,” Danny said.

“It was coming straight for us,” Rachel said. “When you’re right underneath it, it was like a movie, the sun was red and the smoke was dark and black and there was ash falling from the sky… and that’s when we left,” she said through tears.

They grabbed their pets, but said they wish they could have grabbed more, like Rachel’s artwork and sentimental items from Danny’s deployments they can never get back.

“We had chickens and ducks in the backyard that we opened the coops to when we evacuated and hoped for the best. When we went back to our house for the first time, I buried at least 7 chickens in the backyard that were burnt to a crisp. I know they’re birds, maybe not pets, but damn it felt bad,” Danny said while fighting back tears.

The Marine who serves our country didn’t want to ask for any help, but said they have been blown away by the support they have received.

“As dark of a circumstance as it was, it really restores your faith in humanity sometimes and the goodness that people have,” Danny said.

As the Jakle’s fear they are underinsured, they hope other homeowners will take their advice.

“Double check your insurance policy, you think it can’t happen to you. Make sure you’ve got rental coverage, make sure you’ve got policy limits that are high enough to cover a rebuild. We might not,” Danny continued.

The Jakle’s want to pay it forward to their neighbors and also help others who lost everything in the fire. A GoFundMe is set up to accept donations from the community.

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