Patricia Nazario
November 19, 2008
 Listen

One of their cars burned inside their garage at Sylmar's Oakridge Mobile Home Park. But a couple that's been together more than 40 years was able to salvage a few items yesterday. KPCC's Patricia Nazario was there as they sifted through the ash.

---

Patricia Nazario: Since the 1960s, Art Ricketts and Robert Schelvis have been tossing coins into gigantic glass jars.

Art Ricketts: Silver 50-cent pieces, silver quarters. We had two pots going. Big one in the kitchen and the other in my bedroom. Look at that. We had just gone through and counted it about a month ago.

Nazario: How much did you guys have?

Ricketts: Almost $1,500.

Nazario: Ricketts is not letting the financial loss get him down. He jokingly yelled to Schelvis across their home's charred remains as they stretched their backs after digging.

Ricketts: Grab a beer out of that fridge, too, will ya? I could use one. (laughs)

Nazario: The men have shared this 2,300 foot mobile home for 14 years. Ricketts said he's grateful they're alive, but he wished he would've had time to grab his Christmas train set.

Ricketts: ... it had a bakery car and a present car. I mean, it was just really a beautiful thing. All the kids here in the park, every year, the kids'll come over and get to come in and watch that train. Now it's gone.

Nazario: A lot is gone for the couple, including an expansive collection of elephant and rooster figurines and an array of blue-and-white china plates from the Netherlands. Ricketts and Schelvis said they plan to rebuild so they can move into a new home early next year.