1 year later, artist continues to move forward after losing life's work in Atlas Fire
The serenity of Napa's Soda Canyon Road, has given way to the sounds of re-building.
"It's incredible. A year later we've come a long way," said Edmund Ian Grant.
When the Atlas Fire blow torched its way through the area and beyond, it incinerated not only the home of artist Grant and his wife Kristi Rene, but their art studio as well. And with it the life's work of both artists was gone.
"Losing the house is one thing. Losing the art, that was a big one. It was 30 years of our life that we lost," said Grant.
But Grant says he knows he and his wife could have lost their lives.
He says on the night of October 8th, 2017 he received a call from friend and KTVU sports director Mark Ibanez telling him the hillside was on fire and to get out immediately.
"I looked out and said oh my god. There's a river of flames going down the hill," said Grant.
Grant, his wife and pets, piled into their car but the power had gone out the electric gate was trapping them in their driveway.
"The gate was locked. And i couldn't find the keys to open the gate. I dropped the key and I looked behind me and saw the flames," he said.
He finally found the key and the couple made it to safety.
Grant can't replace the lost art. But he is replacing their home/studio. He hopes to move back in March.
"This is the lifestyle we like. Being out in the country. Nature. It was a beautiful place. I'm just playing the odds," Grant said.
The Atlas Fire killed six people in Napa County.
It damaged more than 700 buildings, destroying 120 homes. And could have been worse.
"Very grateful the winds blew away from the city and not into the city," said Napa Mayor Jill Techel.
Techel says the wildfires drew the community together. Neighbors are watching not only their property, she says, but others as well.
"We've had a huge influx of people taking cert training which is training that allows them to be on the front lines to help people during a disaster," Techel said.
Last year's disaster left the home Kurt Bakken was renting, looking like a moonscape.
"Everything I had in my life, I lost," said Bakken
"I recently in the past few years just got all the boxes, elementary school pictures, college. Everything. Just have the memories. But I'm alive.
But the fire did have a positive effect.
"I live with my girlfriend now. It's not a bad thing. Its a good thing," Bakken laughed.
Most people don't go through an experience like a wildfire and come out unchanged.
"What I learned is you just have to be in the moment. You have to take it one moment at a time. That's all there is. That's what I learned from the fire," said Grant.
There are no quick fixes after a wildfire. Some homeowners are able to rebuild faster than others. But it will be years before Napa's recovery is complete.