Arson, Thieves, Insurance Slow Couple's Rebuilding Following King Fire

EL DORADO COUNTY (CBS13) — The forest stopped burning months ago, but a family is still homeless after the King Fire destroyed their home.

For Sally and Gary Dykstra, the simple sight of a neighbor burning pine needles is a sign their lives will never be the same.

"I saw the flames," Sally said. "That scared me. I didn't see my house burn, but its enough to make you nervous."

Their house burned to its foundation in October during the massive King Fire, set by an alleged arsonist.

But two months later, life is barely comfortable. Home is an RV parked in a friend's driveway. The Dykstras and their daughter spent Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's inside it.

While some have rebounded, the Dykstras' healing process has been slow. Construction on their property has yet to begin after something they say was worse than the fire happened.

"It was more heartbreaking to see the looting," Gary said.

"Anything that had any copper in it," Sally said. "That really bothered me was all the stealing. And every time we came up there was more gone."

For insurance reasons, the Dykstras will rebuild the home they built 20 years ago on the same land. But it won't be the same.

"We did everything. Concrete, plumbing, building it two-story," Gary said.

The couple says they're too old to do it again, and will have to get used to a new home in time.

Insurance issues and the late fall's many rain storms delayed work on the home. For now, they don't know when construction will begin.