It was the odd crackling sound and eerie orange glow in the night sky that jolted Phil Davis out of bed. It was almost midnight and when he looked out his window, he could see his next door neighbor's Italian cypress trees were in flames. From Phil's vantage point, it was the beginning of a 20 foot wall of destruction.
There is one time of the year we all hope a firefighter will be immediately available. That would be around the Fourth of July. On the evening of July 3rd, 2016, the jolting, but not unexpected, noise of fireworks exploding was simply annoying to Phil. In the court behind his home on Gardenia in Oakley, folks were celebrating by setting off some powerful holiday fireworks. Maybe the partiers didn't have to work, but Phil had to begin his shift at 5:30 a.m. the next morning. He tried to go to bed around 11 p.m. even as the explosions continued. Sleep didn't come and the nightmare to come was all too real.
"When I saw the trees were on fire, I rounded up my dogs to keep them out of the way. Then I ran over. Someone had called 911. Sparks were flying everywhere and I grabbed my hose to try and help. My neighbor did, too."
Did you notice? Oakley's utility box mural project is underway. Check out the art work of Dylainie Nathlich featured on the utility box at Main St and Live Oak. This is not yet complete and already looks great!
Time and time again we hear of heartwarming and miraculous stories of firefighters and other first responders rescuing our loved ones. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Email us at