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Bill Hilbrandie carries off his sisters computer hard drive from the remains of her home, destroyed by the Rocky Fire in Lake County, Tuesday Sept. 1,  2015.  (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015

Bill Hilbrandie carries off his sisters computer hard drive from the remains of her home, destroyed by the Rocky Fire in Lake County, Tuesday Sept. 1, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015

National News.  We’ve had our share here on the North Coast.  Disaster happens, national media flood in, tell a story of devastation with a quick exit stage right.  As such with the Rocky fire in Lake County.  Pictures sent to the Associated Press by PD staffers were published world-wide.  The national folks descended en masse.  After a week, most were gone.

The story doesn’t end when the big boys and girls leave.  It will take years for residents to recover and the land to regain a semblance of a former self.  The Press Democrat will document these changes, when others may not.  That’s why local newspapers are so important; a voice of sometimes forgotten people and communities.

Lonne Sloan bought a T-shirt commemorating the Rocky fire after firefighters helped to save her home, Tuesday Sept. 1,  2015.  (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015 near Lower Lake.

Lonne Sloan bought a T-shirt commemorating the Rocky fire after firefighters helped to save her home, Tuesday Sept. 1, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015 near Lower Lake.

Lonne Sloan bought a T-shirt commemorating the Rocky fire after firefighters helped to save her home, Tuesday Sept. 1,  2015.  (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015 near Lower Lake.

Bill Hilbrandie with an American flag destroyed by the Rocky fire at hiss sisters home in Lake County, Tuesday Sept. 1, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015

Lonne Sloan looks over the remains of a horse trailer and a garage where she and her husband lost most of what was in it, during the Rocky fire, Tuesday Sept. 1,  2015.  (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015 near Lower Lake.

Lonne Sloan looks over the remains of a horse trailer and garage where she and her husband lost most of what was in it, during the Rocky fire, Tuesday Sept. 1, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015 near Lower Lake.

Bill Hilbrandie surveys what is left of his home, destroyed by the Rocky Fire in Lake County, Tuesday Sept. 1,  2015.  (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015

Bill Hilbrandie surveys what is left of his home, destroyed by the Rocky fire in Lake County, Tuesday Sept. 1, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015

Lonne Sloan and her husband battled the Rocky fire through the night in July,  saving their home but losing construction equipment, out buildings and classic automobiles Tuesday Sept. 1,  2015.  (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015

Lonne Sloan and her husband battled the Rocky fire through the night in July, saving their home but losing construction equipment, out buildings and classic automobiles Tuesday Sept. 1, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015

A charred landscape is all that remains of Bill Hilbrandie's homestead, destroyed by the Rocky Fire in Lake County, Tuesday Sept. 1,  2015.  (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015

A charred landscape is what remains of Bill Hilbrandie’s homestead, destroyed by the Rocky Fire in Lake County, Tuesday Sept. 1, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015

-Kent Porter

 

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