Grandma, Age 4 and 5 Kids Trapped by Wildfire, Grandpa Sobs with Them on Phone Until Death
This year’s wildfires have been intense and unforgiving. Sadly, many have lost their homes and their lives because of the uncontrollable flames.
The Carr Fire in Northern California has been relentless, tearing through entire communities and forcing residents to evacuate.
Winds haven’t helped the men and women attempting to contain the fire, either. On top of that, “The dryness and extreme heat have led to the extreme fire weather,” AccuWeather meteorologist, Evan Duffey, said.
“The air pulls in the fire and creates its own wind,” he continued. “That’s how you get fire vortex, the ‘firenadoes’ that we have been seeing.”
The most tragic part about fires like this one is how quickly they can escalate, making it difficult for residents to get out of flames’ way.
One resident of Shasta County, California, shared that he had no idea just how close the Carr Fire had been creeping toward his home.
On Thursday, July 26, Ed Bledsoe left his home where he and his wife, Melody, and their two great-grandchildren, Emily and James Roberts, resided.
Ed and Melody had been raising Emily, 4, and James (“Junior”), 5, since they were born. “I raised them, took care of them and taught them everything they know,” Bledsoe shared. “Me and Grandma.”
His doctor appointment was just a few miles away, and since the fire had been blazing for 4 days, Bledsoe didn’t think it was coming their way at that point.
“We had no idea, nobody told us nothing,” Bledsoe told CBS. “If I’d had any kind of warning I’d have never, ever left my family in that house.”
Ed Bledsoe raced to get home to his wife and two great grandchildren. He says the road was blocked with cars and the fire stopped him from running to the house, so he stayed on the phone with his great grandson. Bledsoe says when he left, the fire was two to three miles away. pic.twitter.com/ANDwj3xfgq
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) July 30, 2018
Despite not having a warning, the great-grandfather still puts the blame on himself for leaving his wife and great grandkids behind. “I can’t blame it on nobody but me,” he said.
He wasn’t gone long when he received a phone call from Melody. Bledsoe tried everything he could to get back to his family, but traffic caused by the fire forced him to get out of his car and try to make his way on foot.
What happened is heartbreaking. During the family’s final minutes, Bledsoe was able to talk with them on the phone.
His grandson, “Junior,” begged his grandpa for help. “He just kept saying ‘Grandpa, come and get me,” Bledsoe explained though his tears. “‘The fire’s coming in the back door. C’mon, Grandpa.’ I said ‘I’m right down the road.’”
His wife and great-granddaughter said their goodbyes during that last phone call. All of them shared “I love yous” through sobs and tears as Bledsoe kept trying to reach them in time.
Bledsoe’s wife and grandchildren were eventually found with the home’s remains. Melody had wrapped herself and the children in wet blankets.
This man’s story is truly heart wrenching. There’s no further information as to why the family hadn’t been informed of an evacuation.
Our prayers are with Bledsoe and all those affected by the Carr Fire, and every other wildfire, this year.
We are all grieving alongside Bledsoe, and the community is stepping up and supporting him in this process. If you would like to be a part of this community support, donate to rebuilding what he lost through his GoFundMe page.
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