British Columbia91裸聊视频檚 2023 wildfires were a life-changing disaster for many, and their impact has echoed into the holiday season.

The fire season was already breaking records by mid-August when forecasters warned that dry lightning and strong winds on the way were a recipe for catastrophe. Thousands were forced to leave in the southern Interior ahead of fast-moving wildfires. Fire officials described a ferocious fight to save homes, but hundreds were burned to their foundations in the Okanagan and Shuswap regions.

From fire chiefs, to those who lost their homes, to Pumba the pig, here91裸聊视频檚 how some affected by the emergency are spending their holiday season:

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91裸聊视频業 DON91裸聊视频橳 THINK WE91裸聊视频橵E EVER BEEN STRONGER91裸聊视频�

Paul Zydowicz is among 13 members of the Wilson91裸聊视频檚 Landing Fire Department who lost their homes when a wildfire tore through their small community on the shores of Okanagan Lake in August.

The fire chief said the disaster 91裸聊视频渆clipsed91裸聊视频� everything else they experienced this year.

91裸聊视频淩egardless of what else happened in everybody91裸聊视频檚 lives, we just keep on going back and talking about the fire,91裸聊视频� Zydowicz said.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a lot of associated stress, there91裸聊视频檚 a lot of trauma, there91裸聊视频檚 a lot of sadness, but I think overall, the community is pretty positive in our plans going forward.91裸聊视频�

As terrible as it was, Zydowicz said the destructive fire has pulled people together.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think we91裸聊视频檝e ever been stronger as far as the feeling of community.91裸聊视频�

Zydowicz said the holiday season will help people as they try to 91裸聊视频済o back to normal,91裸聊视频� but it91裸聊视频檚 hard to start from scratch.

91裸聊视频淎ll the Christmas decorations that aren91裸聊视频檛 there anymore, that you91裸聊视频檝e accumulated for 20, 30 years sometimes, and the older folks, longer than that,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淵ou can91裸聊视频檛 have those things your kids made 91裸聊视频� that used to hang on the tree every year.91裸聊视频�

He and his family are renting a house in nearby West Kelowna, where they can stay for up to two years as they start the process of rebuilding.

Others have temporary arrangements, as they struggle to find a home in the rental market, he said.

Zydowicz said he91裸聊视频檚 heard of insurance companies indicating it could be three or four years before some residents will be able to return home after rebuilding.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 rather massive, because we just added 200 homes to be rebuilt in a very small area and 91裸聊视频� you know, the rest of the province was burning too.91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频�

Looking ahead, Zydowicz said he hopes the landscape starts showing signs of recovery and the rebuilding process is smooth for those who lost their homes.

91裸聊视频淩ebuilding is part of it, but there91裸聊视频檚 only so much we can do about nature and I91裸聊视频檓 hoping that we have nature help us with making the area look green again, because that91裸聊视频檚 what was the magic about our little neck of the woods here.91裸聊视频�

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91裸聊视频業T91裸聊视频橲 JUST GONNA BE A LOT OF HARD WORK91裸聊视频�

Jesse Zeman and his family use to host holiday gatherings at their property, where people could skate on an outdoor rink and go tobogganing.

But their home was destroyed in the wildfire that raced through forest and suburbs in West Kelowna in August.

91裸聊视频淭he good news is we have a place now and get to see some family over the holidays and yeah, so that91裸聊视频檚 the silver lining I guess,91裸聊视频� he said.

After the fire, Zeman and his wife and two children stayed with family, then lived in a short-term rental for months before finding a new place at the beginning of December.

He said the family will be there for about six months as they wait on their insurance claim so they can begin rebuilding.

Zeman said it91裸聊视频檚 been somewhat overwhelming trying to deal with the preparations to rebuild, but over the holidays, they91裸聊视频檒l be spending time with family 91裸聊视频渁nd taking time to relax.91裸聊视频�

The stress of dealing with the area91裸聊视频檚 tight rental market after the fire was difficult to manage, he said, but the flip-side has seen those in his neighbourhood come together to support each other.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 see any miracles on the horizon. It91裸聊视频檚 just gonna be a lot of hard work,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 definitely, I would say, brought our neighbourhood together for sure, which has been really good. Everybody91裸聊视频檚 reaching out and in contact and supporting each other. So, that91裸聊视频檚 been that91裸聊视频檚 been pretty, pretty awesome for sure.91裸聊视频�

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91裸聊视频楳AKING IT THROUGH, BUT NOT WITHOUT DIFFICULTY91裸聊视频�

Jennifer Hansen helped feed firefighters and evacuees during the wildfires and said she91裸聊视频檚 one of the lucky ones this Christmas in West Kelowna.

The Salvation Army captain said she91裸聊视频檒l be spending Christmas in her home, with her family, putting up decorations that have been part of her holiday traditions for years.

Others won91裸聊视频檛 be so fortunate, said Hansen who is hearing from people who lost their homes in the wildfires who are struggling emotionally and financially.

91裸聊视频淔or me it was an inconvenience,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲e were out of our house for 10 days but we went back and everything was there as is and I got to pull out my decorations and put them up.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淪ome of these folks tell stories of them thinking back to the Christmas decorations that were very sentimental to them that were passed down through the family and over time, that the kids made for them or a parent gave to them, and they don91裸聊视频檛 have those anymore,91裸聊视频� Hansen said.

She said Christmas can also be a reminder for some of everything that was lost.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 pretty heartbreaking, heartbreaking stories that we91裸聊视频檙e hearing,91裸聊视频� said Hansen. 91裸聊视频淚t is difficult and I don91裸聊视频檛 think I91裸聊视频檒l play it down and say, 91裸聊视频榠t91裸聊视频檚 not that bad.91裸聊视频� People are making it through but not without difficulty.91裸聊视频�

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91裸聊视频楢 VERY DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS91裸聊视频�

The scars of the McDougall Creek wildfire that raced through West Kelowna in August are plainly visible this holiday season.

West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund said groups are coming together every day to support those who lost their homes.

91裸聊视频淎nd it91裸聊视频檚 devastating to look up on the hills there and see the scars, and know that means a very different Christmas for those whose homes were lost.

91裸聊视频淭he early days of the fire were difficult physically for us because we were working hard and we weren91裸聊视频檛 sleeping or eating properly,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淏ut I think that as time has gone on, things have become more challenging mentally.91裸聊视频�

But Brolund 91裸聊视频� who became a nationally known figure due to daily fire briefings and went on to address the United Nations 91裸聊视频� said the wildfire has also brought out the best in the community as people rallied around firefighters and those who lost their homes.

He said that, just as the scars of the fire are still visible, so are signs along the edge of the highway with messages of gratitude and support for emergency response staff and others.

91裸聊视频淭he number of cards and signs that were at the firehall was overwhelming,91裸聊视频� Brolund said. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a sign up in the firehall here from a family that lost their home, and we walk by that every day.91裸聊视频�

He said the fire brought the importance of family back into focus.

91裸聊视频淣one of this would have been possible for our firefighters if it wasn91裸聊视频檛 for our families,91裸聊视频� Brolund said. 91裸聊视频淭he majority of our firefighters were evacuated during this fire, and they didn91裸聊视频檛 have time to go home to pack. So, none of this (effort) would have happened if it wasn91裸聊视频檛 for the families taking care of that at home.91裸聊视频�

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PUMBA THE PIG 91裸聊视频楯UST LIVING HER BEST LIFE91裸聊视频�

Pumba the pig didn91裸聊视频檛 just survive when a wildfire swept over the Broken Rail Ranch in West Kelowna in August.

She91裸聊视频檚 thriving, according to Keramia Lawrie, whose parents own the ranch. She said Pumba was looking forward to a Christmas meal of turkey leftovers and maybe some spaghetti.

Lawrie said Pumba emerged from the disaster with a taste for pasta thanks to firefighters who took care of her after she was found alive in the ruins of the ranch.

A helicopter pilot initially threw granola bars from the air to sustain Pumba but later other firefighters 91裸聊视频淒oorDashed her spaghetti,91裸聊视频� said Lawrie.

She said Pumba refused to eat her regular diet after being 91裸聊视频渟o spoiled91裸聊视频� by the fire crews, but she won91裸聊视频檛 begrudge a Christmas feast for the hog.

91裸聊视频淚 think she deserves that. She is a survivor,91裸聊视频� Lawrie said.

When the fire swept over the farm in August, Lawrie91裸聊视频檚 father, Jeff Findlay, had to escape without Pumba and her sister Miss Wilbur. Pumba was spotted from the air roaming on a patch of grass, but Miss Wilbur didn91裸聊视频檛 survive.

Lawrie said Pumba appeared to have overcome the loss of Miss Wilbur and moved on with her life.

91裸聊视频淚 think we are gonna get her another pig eventually, but right now she seems pretty happy hanging out with the goats and the horses,91裸聊视频� said Lawrie. 91裸聊视频淪he gets lots of attention.91裸聊视频�

Pumba91裸聊视频檚 daily routine involves lots of napping and when she is awake, she hangs out with other farm animals.

91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 kind of her day, she is very spoiled. She doesn91裸聊视频檛 have to work or anything,91裸聊视频� laughed Lawrie.

Community volunteers have come together over the past few months to help rebuild the farm, including a little hut for Pumba to replace the one destroyed in the fire.

91裸聊视频淪he loves it. She91裸聊视频檚 very happy,91裸聊视频� said Lawrie. 91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檚 really just living her best life.91裸聊视频�

Two mysteries remain, Lawrie said. The first is how the giant pig survived in the eye of the wildfire storm. The second is how much she weighs because she91裸聊视频檚 now too big to fit on the scale.

READ ALSO: West Kelowna ranch heart 91裸聊视频榖roken91裸聊视频� after losing property, beloved pig to fire

READ ALSO: 13 Wilson91裸聊视频檚 Landing firefighters lose their homes to McDougall Creek wildfire