Nadia Hernandez interview on the 2017 Tubbs Fire, April 9, 2023

Um, ok. So what grade level? And what age were you in? 2017 during the tubs fire? Um, I think I was a sophomore. Um, and I was 16 years old. I might have. Yeah, I think it was 16. Um, ok. What was your school name? And

like, what kind of area was it in? Um, I was, I went to Montgomery High school in Santa Rosa and it's, um, I would say it's a little bit more like, I don't even know how to describe it. Um, like a nicer side of Santa Rosa.

Like, it was um, kind of were like a little bit passed downtown but like, you know, um, ok, so like, what was your living situation like before the fire? Like, where were you living? Who were you living with? Um, so I was living like, uh like

10, 15 minutes away from my high school. So it was like a 10 minute, 15 minute walk. Um I was living at the moment with my mom, my dad and um, yeah, just us this three. Um and then how did you learn about the fire? Um

So I remember staying on alert, like, very early on in the night. It was like probably like nine pm. Um And I remember people posting about the fire kind of like in like Mark West Santa Rosa area. But um it was just like, not concerning because

I've never really like before the tubs fire. I never really experienced like a wildfire like that before. Um But I remember um getting that notification, I remember going to bed and I think I woke up later around like midnight and I had seen like a lot

of people that were posting on like Snapchat and Instagram about like that there's a fire like spreading through Santa Rosa. Um I remember people um just posting about the fire and I remember even like going outside of my house to check and like there was just

like a lot of smoke in the air and like there was just like a redness and like a red glow. Um Yeah. Um ok. And then what were your like feelings and emotions during the alerts and updates you received through the situation? Um I was honestly

um I'm a little, I'm a little interesting. I, I was scared and nervous only because I had never really experienced a wildfire and because it was spreading so fast and like people were like Eva having to evacuate like throughout the whole night. Um and like getting

alerts of different areas. I was a little bit panicked. Um I remember we like loaded up um the car with like stuff that was like immediate like that we would probably need. Um, because I remember that they were like opening shelters and there was one like,

literally like down the street. So my family wasn't too sure if we should leave or not because we were pretty close to like, we weren't anywhere near the fire, but we were just like, just in case anything happens, we were like on the whole other side

of town. Um, so I was nervous but I was also kind of, like, in, like, intrigued and, like, excited only because I was like, oh, my God, like, this is so interesting and, like, I've never experienced this before. I kind of wanted, yeah, I kind of

wanted to see the fire. Like I wanted to see the fire. Um, yeah. Ok. And then, um, what kind of student were you like before the fires? Like, were your grades, like, consistent, your sleep schedule consistent? Like, were you engaging in classrooms? Um, I remember before.

Yeah, I was pretty engaged in, um, typical, like, high school experience. Nothing, like, too, like, not too, I could focus on my academics but, like, not, like, bad to the point where I wasn't, like, not doing my work. It was kind of just like, whatever. Um,

after the fi, during the fires we didn't have school for like, a whole month because, um, I remember the smoke levels were just too, like, unsafe. So they couldn't even have us in school because they didn't even want us, like, they didn't want us inhaling the

smoke. So, like, school got canceled for like, a good month and, like, we weren't even having like, classes online or like, nothing. It was just like, no school. Um, and then what was it, like, going back to class after the fires? Like, was there any, like,

because of the smoke and everything? Like, um, did they get like, any air purifiers in their classrooms or something? Like, so that the classrooms would smell like smoke? Um, I don't think they did. I think by the time that we got back to class because they

waited like, like a long time for us to come back until it was safe. Um, I don't think, I think they had like, air conditioning on but I don't think they did anything special. I think they updated their air conditioning actually. And then sorry, go ahead.

If you, we're gonna, um, what was like, the environment, like the environment after the fires, like at school? Like, were you guys, like talking about it? Like, were your teachers, like talking a lot about it? Yeah. Um, a lot of people at my school were talking

about it. Um, they would just talk kind of talk about, like their own experience and like how they found out and how they felt about the fire and, like, where they evacuated or if they evacuated kind of like their feelings. Um, we talk about like, oh,

so, and so, like, lost their house or, like, they were just, like, talk and I remember that, um, during all of that, like, people were very, like the community, like, they wanted to help each other out, I guess just because, like, a lot of people did

lose their homes. Um, I know that, like, even, like, some professors, I think, like, lost their homes during the fire. So that was like a talk, I know that there was like a whole, like, Sonoma Strong thing, like the first time I've ever heard of that.

But they were like, being like, oh, like cinemas strong. Like we got through this, like something bad. Yeah. Um, ok. Um, and then like, if you remember, like, just like your, like your initial, like, thoughts of just like walking back into school, like, after the fire,

like, were you like, anxious, like, nervous or just like, happy to go back into school? No, I was definitely ready to go back into school. Um, I wasn't anxious at all. I was more so, like, I think I was sad that I had to go back

to school. But um, it was nice because I wasn't socializing and then like, I know because of the fires there was a lot of PG and E shut off. So like, we wouldn't even have like electricity at home. So it's not like we were like, at

home, like watching TV, all day or like doing stuff like there was really like nothing to do. Um OK. And then did your academic engagement suffer at all? Um Did it stay the same? Like, how was your mental health during or after the process? Um I

think it stayed the same, like my academic, my mental health, I, I honestly want to say that I think I did go through it. I don't know why I was like super, I was super emotional at that time because of everything going on because I did

feel bad that like a lot of people lost their homes and then just like being isolated for a while since I couldn't go to school. I think I was definitely like going through it. Um um and then did your teachers or like the staff at the

school and even like maybe your classmates, um did they help make this process of like going back into school easier? Um I think that we definitely like came back like they were very slow about it just because like, they didn't know like the extent to like

everyone's experience and stuff. So I think that they were definitely like the first week back, I think it was like slow and like just I think we were just talking about it to be honest and like teachers were offering their support and stuff. Um but we

just like eased into it. Um because we obviously we lost like a lot of school. So, like, we had to skip so they had to, like, be flexible with us and, like, I don't think that they were harsh on, on us at all. Um, they were

very understanding. Ok, that's really cool. Um, and then how, what were your, like, friends experiences with, like, the fire? Like, did their experiences, like going through, like, as the fire was happening or like seeing the stories or whatever? Like did that like scare you or like

get you anxious? Um I remember when it happened. Yeah, luckily, like, none of my close friends were like affected by the fire but like when the fires happened, um everyone was kind of freaking out and like we were texting our friends like, oh mom, like, are

you OK? Is it near you? Like just like checking in on each other? Um I know like even some friends did have to like evacuate just because of the side of the town that they lived in. Um um I know some friends even have like um

I don't know, like people that worked for the city and were just like out working and like helping? OK. And then how do you think they impacted your experience in coping with like this type of stuff? Like is there a way like going through all of

that stress? Like made you like, oh, like I can do this differently to like reduce my anxiety or whatever. Um, definitely, probably, like, um, I learned that, like, I don't, I don't have to freak out about things before they happen. Like, you kind of like, get

nothing out of that because that's kind of just like, freaking yourself out twice. Um, so I feel like I learned that also patience. Um, I know even, I know like we're talking about the 2017 fires but like, even like the fires after that almost being like,

you need to have kind of like a clear head to make decisions. Um, especially like during something like panic, um, like remaining calm, like not trying to do things impulsively. Um And then how did your daily routine change after the fire? Like, uh like I know

you said, like there was power outages and stuff like, um, nothing really changed. Um But I will say that like the year, like, like two year, like, it's just a yearly thing, maybe the past two years it hasn't. But like, just like being aware that there

will be like shutoffs and like, they'll do preventative, like measures to like, make sure that like wildfires don't spread like they're, they're quick with it now. Um I don't even know what you asked me. I forgot it's ok. Um Do you have any fears of the

fires coming back? Like, like as big as the tubs fire was and how fast it, like spread through Santa Rosa? Um I don't think I'm scared anymore. I used to be just because it was, like, yearly but I feel like with the years, um, they've gotten

really good at controlling it, like, they, they get on it ASAP and then it's put out. So, like, um, and also just like the way, like, the alerts and everything and, like, warning people beforehand because I know people, like, passed away in the tubs fires because

they couldn't make it out of their house. So, I don't know, I just feel like Cinema County because of it, they've had, they've gained like a lot of experience to, like, make sure that, like, they do the safe, they make sure that people are safe, like

beforehand. So I'm not too worried about it anymore. Um, but definitely I still see it happening, like, in all of California, like there'll be fires and then I'm like, damn, like, it just happens sometimes and like, there's nothing you can do about it. Yeah. Like when

all that stuff happened I was like, like the, like how you said the yearly, like the shut offs? I'm like, oh, ok. Well, here we go again. Like two weeks. No power. Like I gotta get everything charged and everything downloaded. Yeah. Um, and then were your

parents, uh, like, out of work during this time because of the fires? Uh, like did this impact their stress levels or your stress levels if like, they were impacted financially? Um, yes, because I think my mom cleans houses. She's a housekeeper and some of her clients

houses actually did like, burn down. So, like, that was like a loss of income for her. Um, I know that she went because of like the unsure and like of like going back into certain areas while it was still going because like it was go, it

went on for like, like a week, like, really strong and then the weeks after that they were just like, having it, like, they were trying to contain it. Um, so like some places were reopened. But yeah, I know my mom did lose some time of work.

I don't think my dad lost work. I think he was able to go back to work because it was like, out of the way. But, yeah. Ok. And did this stress your mom out a lot? Like, no. Yeah, just because she was like, oh, like, well,

that's like income lost and if he's having to take time off because of the fires, like, how am I supposed to make money? Yeah. Uh, you guys were still able to, like, pay rent and do all, like, get groceries and stuff? Ok. That's, um, and then

after the, um, event of the fire, do you have like a like disaster plan or like, do you have like, ok, if this happens, well, I can go here or I have like, something ready just in case like we have to evacuate. Um, honestly, you'd think

that, like I would but I haven't put much thought into it. Um, I definitely do, like, have in mind, like, things that, like, I'm like, ok, I actually need this to survive or, like, do things, like, if it came down to it, I'd probably just choose,

like, meaningful things. I don't know, meaningful things are like medication and, um, what was the hardest part about this disaster and why? Um, definitely, like, seeing how uh affected everyone was by it because it was like a really big loss. Like, even like a lot of

like a lot of people that like, I knew in like the community lost their homes and like were left homeless and like a lot of people were just trying to like, help them, like, stay afloat, like donating money, food, giving them the like shelter for a

while. Um It was just like, really sad and um I know a lot of people were like suing PGNE because I think that's, I started because of a power line and like, just seeing people like, really frustrated that like nothing was happening or like, you know,

they weren't given money or um like, like, like people lost everything and like, yeah, no, I, I heard about the, the um so if like, you had to relive this disaster again, would you do anything differently? Um, probably be ready? Maybe be beforehand. I know, like

they really um advocate for that now, especially with like, the little earthquakes we've been having too and just like the weather being crazy, it would be smart to have like a little like go bag ready. Um, also just like, um, being more patient and like receptive

to like everything going around. Like, because nothing decisions, like I said before, decisions can't really be made if you're like panicking, which is like my parents kind of struggled to do because my mom was panicking. Then she made me like panicked, like seeing her like trying

to grab everything and trying to like and that panicked me. Yeah, that would panic me too. Like I remember during the earthquake when an earthquake happened, I was at my cousin's house and we both of us didn't feel like we were sound asleep and our aunt

was the one who came in like all like friends and he was like, oh my God, there's an earthquake. Are you guys? Ok. And her coming in and screaming made us more scared than even realizing that there was an earthquake. Yeah. And then um like, what

did you learn after the fire? Like, you know, like I know we said uh like maybe having a plan and being more patient. But is there anything else that you learned after the fire? Um I don't probably that we have to work more on like environmental

like policies or like, or like the way that the government handles like um mass like, like destruction, destruction or chaos and tragedy because they'd be panicking in moments like that. Or, like, they seem like unprepared sometimes. So, definitely, like, figuring out. Well, that's not really me

but that's the government's problem. Yeah. Like, did you, um, like, speaking on that? Like, was, um, like, since everything happened so fast, like, that night? Um, like, did your friends ever say, like, oh, like they were telling us to go here and then we had to

go somewhere else or like, yeah, I remember people like, yeah, I remember people being like, oh, like, don't go in this area, come here and then like shelters are full or like just like, there's just a lot of miscommunication but I think a lot of it

comes from like people just being really panicked or spreading misinformation because I remember on Snapchat people were being like, oh, there's a fire here when they're like, actually was it was it in the, there wasn't any fires in the area? So that would like, create more

panic, which is literally, I think that's why I evacuated because a friend was like, oh, no, like it's near like we see it but what you're seeing is like a mountain and, and you're seeing the Red Globe but then you're like, oh, I don't know how

close that is to us or whatever. No. Yeah, I get it. Um OK, I think that's everything. Um Can I just have your