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Families far and near desperately searching the missing from Camp Fire

"It's unimaginable. I'm numb all over and I don't know what I'll do if she'll not come back," Art said about Jennifer Hayes, his longtime girlfriend who is missing.

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Since the Camp Fire tore through Paradise and surrounding towns in Butte County, hundreds of families all over the country are searching for loved ones.

Art Villa is one of those searching desperately. He's been to every evacuation shelter and center and has not found his long-time girlfriend Jennifer Hayes, both of whom lived in Paradise.

"It’s unimaginable," Art said. "I’m numb all over and I don’t know what I’ll do if she’ll not come back."

Jennifer got a call from her social worker asking if she evacuated. Art said Jennifer called him to say the fire was coming, but he never heard if she made it out safely.

"She loves me and I love her to death and I just can’t imagine not being with her anymore," Art said. "She’s the reason I’m doing what I’m doing. She’s the reason I am driving truck, bought a house. And supplying her with what she needs."

Jennifer Hayes.

Art feels guilty for not being next to Jennifer when the fire came through.

"The timing wasn't right," Art said. "I should have been there. I feel guilty because I moved her up there, but I don’t have a crystal ball."

Art is leaving out hope Jennifer is alive and is sheltered somewhere safe.

"Every time they say they are finding people I have hope," Art said. "She's my life. She keeps me going."

Art isn’t alone. More than 200 hundred families are desperately searching for their loved ones. Some even as far away as Canada.

"24 hours, 36, 48 and now today there’s still no word," said Megan Janes.

Megan is missing her her uncle Randy and Aunt Paula Dodge. They lived off Pentz Road in Paradise.

Randy and Paula.

“I think that there’s hope, but also we have to prepare ourselves for the worst," Megan said.

The heartbreaking update Monday night that at least 42 bodies have been found, is hard to comprehend.

“I’m not a religious person. I don’t believe in God until now, but I think we need a little bit of God," Megan said. "I think we need a little bit of help. I think that’s the first time I’ve said that but I think we need a little bit of God right now. It’s been a very hard week and I don’t pray but I’m praying. So if anything do that."

Back in the cab of his truck, as he waits to hear, all Art can think about is being next to his Jennifer once again.

"At this point, nothing matters except Jennifer and I just need her back," Art said. "If I get her back, it will be hard to leave her again. Like I said I feel guilty about it. I put her out here and I put her in danger without knowing it."

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