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'Like the apocolypse': Australian film director loses house in devastating California fires


An Australian moviemaker has been left with $20 in his pocket and the clothes on his back after he lost his home and his filming equipment in devastating fires that have ravaged California.

Neil Johnson, who previously lived on the Gold Coast, was evacuated from the home he shares with his girlfriend, actress Tracey Birdsall, last Friday (local time).

The Woolsey fire, one of three across the state, has burned through almost 100,000 acres and destroyed more than 430 structures – including Neil and Tracey’s home.

California fires: Drone still of Australian director Neil Johnson's Malibu home, which he shares with actress Tracey Birdsall, after it burned down.
A drone shot shows the devastation of the fire. Source: Supplied
California fires: Tracey Birdsall stands amid the ruins of her Malibu home after it was destroyed by a fire. Source: Supplied
Tracey Birdsall stands amid the ruins of her home after it was destroyed by a fire. Source: Supplied
California fires: Australian director Neil Johnson (pictured) lost his Malibu home.
Neil Johnson lost his filming equipment and part of his latest film in the fire. Source: Supplied

The couple initially thought the blaze was too far away to be a risk, but a sudden change in direction put their Malibu home directly in the line of fire.

Arriving back at the property the following day, Neil described the shock at seeing the three-storey home turned to rubble and ash.

“It was like the apocalypse,” he told Yahoo7.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. It was horrendous. It’s flat now, there’s only two bits of walls left.”

‘Everything is dust’

As self-professed sci-fi buffs, Neil and Tracey had collected props and memorabilia from film sets around the world, including a giant robot made of steel and two spaceships that were stored in the garage.

“Everything in there is dust now. The heat literally destroyed everything,” Neil said.

“[The house] had a lot of history, a lot of memories. In total, five or six feature films, three music videos and a couple of TV shows have been shot there. It’s got history.

“I had all my cash in a safe because I didn’t trust the banks, and that’s now burned down,” he said, adding they have been left with only the clothes on their backs.

Neil and Tracey say that, despite their loss, they are more grateful than ever to be surrounded by their friends and family. Source: Supplied
Neil and Tracey say that, despite their loss, they are more grateful than ever to be surrounded by their friends and family. Source: Supplied
California fires: One of the last things remaining on Neil Johnson and Tracey Birdsall's Malibu property is the spiral staircase. Source: Supplied
One of the last things remaining on the property is the spiral staircase. Source: Supplied
California fires: The Malibu staircase, pictured before the fire, was one of the only things remaining. Source: Supplied
The staircase, pictured before the fire, was one of the only things remaining. Source: Supplied
California fires: The blazes continue to burn and still pose a threat to 57,000 buildings. Source: Supplied
The fires continue to burn and still pose a threat to 57,000 buildings. Source: Supplied

Tracey, who began her career on film and TV after appearing in commercials as a teenager, has lived in her home for 16 years and had experienced wildfires before – but nothing like the one that engulfed her property.

“It was horrifying. You have no idea,” she said.

“When I first moved there my youngest daughter was primary-school age, we had playgrounds in the backyard. I had shot a couple of films there before I met Neil.

“How could a house just be gone? It’s all just dust.”

‘We have no money, no food’

The house was minimally insured and even the couple’s fireproof safe – storing Neil’s savings – was destroyed.

Family and friends of the couple have started a GoFundMe page to help them get back on their feet.

“We literally have no money. No food. We’re eating from the Red Cross, which have been great,” Neil said.

California fires: The front of Neil Johnson and Tracey Birdsall's Malibu home before the fire hit. Source: Supplied
The front of the home before the fire hit. Source: Supplied
California fires: The rear of Neil Johnson and Tracey Birdsall's Malibu house before the fire. Source: Supplied
The rear of the house before the fire. Source: Supplied

But despite losing everything, Tracey said the tragedy has made them more grateful than ever to be alive and surrounded by loved ones.

“The stuff doesn’t matter so much. It’s nice – but at the end of the day it’s the people in your life not the material things,” she said.

Firefighters have about 50 per cent of the Woolsey blaze under control as 57,000 properties continue to be in danger.

The largest fire in California, the ‘Camp Fire’ – which is north of Sacramento, has killed 56 people and destroyed 10,321 buildings, including many homes.

It has become the deadliest fire in California’s history.