Golden Gate mom and daughter return home after wildfire evacuation

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)—For the first time since Ariel Josie and her 4-year-old daughter Bonni were evacuated from their home, they slept in their own beds.

Josie told WINK News that while sleeping in the Golden Gates Community shelter and the 24 hours that followed, she was dealing with overwhelming emotions. 

When she left her home Monday night, she didn't know if she would ever see it standing again.

Even though the fire has grown since Tuesday, Josie feels safer knowing her original concern, the lack of containment, is getting under control. For Josie, her biggest joy and relief is knowing her daughter is safe and life can become a little bit more normal.

"I did go back to my home this morning just to check out the smoke. Personally, that way I could see what was going on and see how bad the smoke was, see if it was still in the air," Josie said. "And actually, when I returned home, it was still thick. The smell was still there. You can't get rid of it. It's in our clothes. It's in my car."

Josie said Bonni gets out of school later, and she cannot wait to bring her back home again.