Vacaville business owner focuses on rebuilding after wildfire destroys his winery

Jessica Mensch reports

BEEN DESTROYED.

FOX FORTY'SJESSICA MENSCH SPOKE WITHOWNERS WHO ARE WORKING TO PUTTHEIR LIVES BACK TOGETHER.I LAID EVERY SINGLE ONE OFTHE RETAINING BLOCKS THIS ISMORE THAN JUST A BURNT-OUTBUILDING THAT TOUCHEDEVERYTHING ON THIS PROPERTY,IT'S JERRY YOU, LEON WASLIFE'S WORK EVERY PENNY THAT IHAVE I DON'T EVEN HAVE MONEYIN THE BANK FOR YOU KNOWBECAUSE IT'S ALL BEEN INVESTEDHERE HIS LOCKER GOT A WINERYAND DISTILLERY, HE BUILT FROMTHE GROUND UP WITH HISFATHER'S HELP DESTROYED IN L ANEW LIGHTNING COMPLEX FIRES,YOU KNOW MY DAD PASSED AWAYLIKE.

3 YEARS AGO.

THERE'S SOMUCH STUFF THAT WE MADE INTHERE LIKE THE CONCRETE TOPTHAT SET ON TO I MEAN THEEVERYTHING WE BUILT THE WHOLETHING SO.THERE'S A LOT OF MEMORIESTHAT ARE IN THERE THAT CAN'TBE REPLACED.

AND IT WAS SOSCARY LOOKED LIKE ARMAGEDDONYOU LEON AND HIS HUSBAND DAVIDHURRIED INTO THEIR CARSTUESDAY EVENING AS THE FIRERAGED TOWARD THEIR WINERY.THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TOEVACUATE THEIR ANIMALS WHENTHEY CAME BACK THE NEXTMORNING.THE GOATS ARE ALIVE.

THECHICKENS ARE A LOT.

I WASLIKE.GOD HIS HOUSE RIGHT NEXT TOTHE WINERY ALSO SPARED.

AND HEBELIEVES HIS COAX HER TO THANKTHEY.

THEY SAVED OUR PROPERTYBECAUSE THEY ATE DOWN ALL OFTHE GRASS WHILE AS VINEYARDSARE SCORCHED AND HIS WINESUPPLY CAUGHT.

WE STILLCONSIDERS HIMSELF LUCKY.SEE DOWN ACROSS PLEASANTVALLEY ROAD.

HOW MANY PEOPLELOST THEIR HOMES ANDEVERYTHING THAT WAS IN IT.

IDON'T THINK THAT THOSE THINGSCAN EVER BE RECOVERED.HE'S JUST HOPING HISCOMMUNITY ISN'T LOST TOO.I HOPE WE CAN REBUILD THAT.THIS CLEARLY STILL A LOT OFCLEANUP OUT HERE LEFT TO BEDONE THESE HOMEOWNERS ANDBUSINESS OWNERS ARE NOW JUSTHOPING THAT THE FLAMES STAYAWAY.

IN VACAVILLE, I'M