‘Mom lost everything’: Homeless mother and daughter recount moments Darlene 3 Fire sparked

LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ)-- As the Darlene 3 Fire reportedly reaches 100% containment, all of those affected by the fire are able to return home. But for one homeless family, everything is gone.

Ivy and Ayla were living in homeless camps near the La Pine Cemetery when the fire sparked.

Ayla said Monday, "I called her because I thought she was on fire. And she grabbed her stuff, and she came where I was and thought I was on fire. It just looked like it was closer to home than it was to me, but I guess it was right between us."

"Mom lost everything," she added.

All of Ivy's family photos and valuables burned in the fire.

Ivy said, "We just kind of been barely surviving already for so long. Like, nobody wants to give us work. My community, we usually would take care of each other. Now, they're just cruel."

St. Vincent de Paul social services in La Pine has been providing clothing, sleeping bags and tents to the homeless affected by the fire.

Becca Rohleder, manager of social services, said, "It's my estimation that there were probably upwards of 100 people who were displaced due to the fire." 

She says St. Vincent is expecting an increase in visitors beginning this week as the homeless make their way back to their camps.

Rohleder said, "I really do feel in some ways that we're driving these people to live this way. And again, like I said, and now we're condemning them. Shame on us."

Ivy and Ayla say they will try to rebuild in a nearby area, but say they feel unwelcome in the city of  La Pine.

Ivy said, "People need to use their common sense a little bit and remember that we're just as human as they are. And when people treat us like that, it tells us that they're the ones that are inhumane. They're the animals - not us."

It has so far cost fire officials nearly $3.5 million to fight the Darlene 3 Fire, and currently, 300 firefighters are still on the ground. Those homeless residents will be allowed back on to the BLM land when the area closure is lifted and it opens back up to the public.