Wildfire survivor expresses his love for Jesus Christ, church community after losing home
Spokane wildfire survivor Christopher Guyton joins 'America Reports' on Fox News to share footage of his destroyed home and discuss his plans to rebuild after the Old Trails fire devastated his community.
Spokane wildfire survivor Christopher Guyton said losing his home to one of Washington state’s most devastating wildfires strengthened his faith and inspired him to spread the Gospel.
Guyton shared his faithful message Wednesday on "America Reports" as fire survivors across the Spokane area look to rebuild their lives after three separate fires reportedly burned over 10,000 acres and destroyed more than 700 structures.
"I'm able to see very clearly the love of Jesus Christ," Guyton said. "There are a lot of people out there that lost their homes that don't have Jesus, and that is way worse... what this makes me want to do is go spread the Gospel."
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Christopher Guyton, who moved to Spokane in 2020, lamented how his family and so many other Spokane residents lost "everything" in the "blink of an eye." (Josh Edelson / AFP via Getty Images)
Flames tore through the Spokane area over the weekend, leaving neighborhoods strewn with charred vehicles, melted plastic recycling bins and ash-covered lots that were once homes.
Guyton, an audio designer who moved to Spokane in 2020, lamented how his family and so many others lost "everything" in the "blink of an eye."
The Spokane resident lost cherished personal belongings, including his music studio and retro video game collection, though his wife, two children and cat escaped unharmed.
"My 3-year-old, she doesn't really understand why we can't go home," he told Fox News. "My 1-year-old is a little bit too young to really understand anything."
Allen Sather stands in front of his 1968 Chevrolet C20 at the duplex he rented on W. Indian Trail Rd. that burned in a wildfire in Spokane, Washington, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026. (AP Photo / Young Kwak)
"We haven't showed them any of this just because we feel like it would just be too traumatic for them," he continued.
Guyton expressed gratitude for the support of his church community as he and his family look to rebuild their lives.
"It's been pretty difficult, but luckily, we have a really supportive church family and we are just super blessed with everything that we've been given to just try to start putting the pieces back together," Guyton said.
He said navigating the loss of a home has been easier because of his faith, explaining that the "joy" he finds in Christianity helps ease the pain.
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"[My pastor] always talks about the difference between joy and happiness," Guyton said. "He says, ‘Joy is something that you get from God and when you have joy, you can still feel sadness, but there's a lightness to that sadness.’"
The grief that comes with such a devastating loss, Guyton said, feels more manageable because of his relationship with God, adding that he hopes to use his devastation to introduce more people to Jesus’ love.
"When you're depressed, sadness is really heavy and happiness is really, really heavy as well. But we have joy because we have Jesus," Guyton said.
The Old Trails Fire destroyed hundreds of buildings in and around Spokane, Washington, before investigators arrested Aaron F. Farinacci on suspicion of first-degree arson. (AP Images ; Arizona Department of Corrections)
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Aaron Farinacci, 37, was charged with first-degree arson after being accused of intentionally setting the Old Trails Fire, the largest of the three Spokane blazes. Officials say Farinacci was previously questioned by police about two other wildfires in 2025.
Guyton said Farinacci’s alleged arson is a "real shame," and only makes the tragedy "worse" as the family of four grapples with how to move forward without their home.
"I hope that all the authorities that are involved in this can find some way to make this right with everyone," he concluded.
