The massive wildfires sweeping through California have killed twenty three people.
Former Fiji Resident, Julia Matiavi who now resides in Santa Rosa, California says they have never seen a scene like this before.
Matiavi says she will never forget what happened on Monday morning.
“Everyone was just panicking. I literally have no words to explain how I felt that night because I never expect a fire on where we lived, it was such a small town, and you’ll never expect it.”
Matiavi says their focus now is to help one another.
“From now I think we’ll help rebuild whatever was lost. I know a couple of people who lost their home. We are hoping for the best with whatever we can and eat whatever we have. We just have to help each other, such a small community of islanders, I feel we are going to come together and help those who are in need.”
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Fiji Judith Cefkin is yet to receive any reports of Fijians in California.
20,000 residents have been evacuated since Monday and the cause of the fires remains unknown.
