California wildfires: What homeowners grabbed and left behind [Video]

A vintage green-leather Rolex watch case. An Alekos Fassianos painting. A hard drive and albums with family photos. Phone chargers and laptops. Medications and passports, of course. Some clothes. Most importantly, the pets.

As Santa Ana winds propelled a series of raging wildfires that wiped out homes and businesses across once-picturesque swaths of Southern California – killing at least 11 people – tens of thousands have been forced from their homes this week in a haze of uncertainty: What to pack? How long will they be gone? What will they return to?

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Destruction on their doorstep, evacuees like Maryam Zar grabbed what they could in their final whirlwind moments at home.

“You’re just kind of on autopilot,” said Zar, former chair of …