Twelve were killed at Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, on Wednesday. On Thursday, a wildfire sprung up 5 miles away.
The tight-knit California community devastated by a mass shooting on Wednesday is facing a new threat: a wildfire just 5 miles away.
The Hill Fire ignited on Thursday, fanned by powerful Santa Ana winds. It's already grown to 10,000 acres, according to the Ventura County Star, and threatens thousands of structures.
As residents of Thousand Oaks gathered on Thursday evening for an emotional vigil to honor the 12 killed at Borderline Bar & Grill, smoke clouded the sky above them.
But the community comforted each other with bear hugs, holding hands and lighting candles in memory of the fallen.
"You might not know everybody's name but you're there for everyone," resident Sara Willis told local station KABC. "We're Thousand Oaks Strong tonight."
Among those at the vigil were survivors of the shooting.
Brooke Keeling survived by jumping out a window at the bar. Her mom, Carrie, pulled her close.
Asked by Inside Edition how she's doing, Brooke replied, "Not so well."
Danielle Merrill, who survived the shooting in Las Vegas last year, told Inside Edition she immediately recognized the sound of the "pop, pop, pop" when the gunman opened fire at Borderline.
"You gotta go back and do what you do," she urged, adding that she "would go back in a heartbeat."
"You can't let them win."
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