As I headed toward Paradise on the morning of the 8th, the radio traffic sounded like Armageddon. I was trying to tell my father in law and sister in law how to get out because traffic was grid locked and starting to burn over cars on all the roads. I sent them up the mountain and didn't hear from them for hours. (wifes dad and sister, and her family). Wife calling me about any news, and to check on me. Dispatchers answering 911 and telling people- no one is coming, you need to run for your lives. Wifes friends evac the hospital and set up the ICU on the helipad as 100 foot flames burned hospital buildings and trees 360 around them. Over 30 of our deputies lost their homes. Of the 5 guys in my unit-2 lost their homes- 1 had just cancelled his renters insurance in anticipation of getting the keys to his newly purchased house in 5 days. He lost everything and no insurance-two babies and a young wife. He was evacing the hospital while everything he owned burned. We will make him whole. I have been at work since that morning except for 1 day they forced me to take off. My story isn't special- everyone has the same story. My house in Chico is fine. I have had 3 evacuated families living with us. Some OK and went home. Some don't have a home- so dogs, cats and kids yay!!!! Not really my problem- I'm working 14+ hours everyday. I'm in charge of the physical search and recovery of the unaccounted. It's all stressing my wife out badly.

And then I find out about my "brother" in tan. This shart of a human being managed to get most of his stuff out during the fire-several trailers full, classic car, horses and stuff. we all have take home patrol cars. He got his personal items out of the county ride, and then left it and the county guns to burn. No reason to take, he had no intention of coming to work to help evacuate the 52,000 people in the path of the fire. He went somewhere safe. We had many days of fire, an officer involved shooting, a mudslide and debris flow that caused flooding all over the county, and 30+ employees, homeless, working all day everyday. Except this asshat. His wealthy family, has set up a Gofundme page for him. It has almost $25,000 in it. He's standing in front of his burned house looking sad. He helped none but himself, and wants the world to give him gifts because he wears a uniform. Your a piece of shit "brother", I'd call you a cunt, but it's an insult to the word.

I do send a very heart felt shout out to all the mutual aid and everyone else that has made this better than it could have been. It's a debt we can never repay. First the dam, now the fire/flooding. Welcome to disaster county. There's an active geo-thermal area at the volcano I can see from my house. I'm sure the 9.5 earthquake that knocks the nuclear waste train into the river, will cause an eruption that will knock a 747 into the dam. But thats next week.

That is truly terrible. I am sure you are not the only person who has notices "Brother Asshat's" behavior.

It'll bite him.

Hang in there Jack.

What goes around comes around. It may take awhile, but it will happen. In the meantime keep doing what you are doing. It will take care of itself. Always does.

I’d call his shit out by name and give “the rest of the story” to go fund me as a comment

So, he abandoned his duties for his own personal reasons and destroyed county property?

The sheriff knows this?

As far as abandoning his duties, he wasn't at work when the fire started, it was his day off. He also didn't destroy anything, he just chose to save his own stuff, and let the county stuff go. What he abandoned was his co-workers, his community and maybe the possibility of saving one or more of the 85 and counting people that died in this fire.

I really can’t raise any emotion against the guy as it’s overwhelmed by the thoughts about the paradise devastation.

We leave close enough (Concord Area), to know lots of people with friends and relatives who were affected.

Thank you for what you did to help.

Were your in-laws OK, Jack? When I saw the gridlock coming down from the mountain, I wondered if it was a better idea to head north on Skyway, above the fire.

Aw hell, so sorry for the shitty "brother".
Here is what I have found to be true. Buttnuggets like that do get their due, but usually it is not near soon enough to be truly satisfying. But rest assured, these cats do finally get their just desserts, sooner or later. I find satisfaction in that premise.

Well Jack, you did the right thing and can live with that.

Thank you for being one of the good guys that are willing to sacrifice for others.

You have my fullest respect.