‘We’ve Been Forgotten’: Mountain Fire Victims Fight Frustration Amid Slow Recovery Efforts

(Camarillo, Calif.) — Nearly three months after the Mountain Fire ravaged the Southern California city of Camarillo, phase two of debris removal efforts is officially underway.

Displacing thousands and burning over 20,000 acres, the blaze — dubbed one of the worst in Ventura County history — has left a painful mark on victim’s lives. For some locals, the path forward has been slow and frustrating, making them feel forgotten.

Madison O’Donnell and her father lost their beloved Spanish Hills home and she says they have received little to no guidance from district representatives or county officials on the next steps.

On top of watching her home of three decades turn to ash and rubble, she lost her beloved deaf pitbull Blue. In an attempt to find him, she plastered posters of him around town, hoping someone will find him and return him.

“Ever since the LA fires, we’ve been forgotten about,” O’Donnell said. “I would be okay with losing everything if I didn’t lose my dog.”

While signs around Camarillo indicate that the second phase of clean-up efforts has commenced, some homeowners feel as though they have been left to navigate the post-fire process alone.

Those who did not lose their homes but were evacuated, like local Shayne Stovall, are still dealing with the aftermath that brought life to a standstill.

“The fire was crazy, it happened right behind our house on the hill — a little further up,” Stovall said. “Ash came all in our front yard, and now we’re repairing our [garden].”

Local business owners like Roman Garcia, CEO of the agricultural company Mike & Sons INC., has been taking steps to serve the community amid his own struggle with running the company after the Mountain Fire.

“We are moving forward by growing fire-resistant plants that protect our land,” Garcia said.

A city news release stated that debris removal crews will be working daily from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with shared contact information from the company in charge of debris removal efforts. But for those who lost their homes and cherished memories, enduring the recovery process feels as uncertain as the Mountain Fire itself.