PARADISE, Calif. — Three generations of Paradise women died together in a home during the Camp Fire. But it took more than six months after the devastating wildfire before crews positively identified two of the women.
Grandmother, Matilde Heffern, her daughter, Christina Heffern, and her granddaughter, Ishka Heffern, were all victims of the deadliest wildfire in California history.
“She was a really good mother. She was active in her community until she got sick. She ended up in Paradise because, at the time when her and her husband were up there, they wanted to be close to the mountains and raise kids," said Olivia Carmin.
Matilde's sister, Olivia from Georgia, says the three were proud to call Paradise home.
Family members shared a photo of the family days after the Camp Fire. They were still missing and all three lived at the same home off Norwood Drive. The day of the Camp Fire, a few calls were made. Matilde and Ishka were in wheelchairs after recent illness and surgery.
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“It was virtually impossible for them to have gotten out of the house. My niece Christina suffered from agoraphobia," Carmin said. Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that cause people to panic when they fear they'll be trapped or helpless.
And the roads were blocked. Everyone was trying to evacuate at once. Several people died in their cars, many in their homes.
Matilde, Christina and Ishka did not make it out in time. They died together that day.
"Christina, Ishka and Mattie were inseparable. I think that the reason they couldn't find three bodies at first," Carmin said. "They realized later that my niece had wrapped herself around her daughter. They realized they couldn't get her out of there because the wheelchair.
"I think she just resigned herself and held on tight. It was really heartbreaking. We had hoped by some miracle they had gotten out. That's why they didn't get out."
The Butte County Sheriff's Office identified Christina's body in December. Ishka and Matilde were not positively identified until June 3, 2019.
"The reason it took so long is because they couldn't find three bodies," Carmin explained. "There was only two and it wasn't until, I guess after they were doing testing and they realized that my niece was actually wrapped around her daughter, and instead of one set of human remains it was two. It was actually Ishka and Christina."
And now the family is trying to take all the necessary steps forward.
“I think their story really needs to get out there," said Carmin.
They want people to know the life they lived before this tragedy. Matilde used to work for the postal service. She was in the Air Force and was a teacher and writer.
Christina was also a writer - following in her mom’s footsteps.
Ishka was just starting out her life. She was 20 years old when she died.
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