Father and Son Tragically Perish in California Wildfires; Arkansas Family Seeks Answers

BRADLEY COUNTY, Ark. – A heartbreaking story has emerged from the recent wildfires in California, with a tragic Arkansas connection. Anthony Mitchell and his son, Justin, were killed in the blaze that ravaged their home in Los Angeles County. The father and son duo, both of whom had significant health challenges, perished despite a desperate call for help to family members.

The story centers around Hajime White, Anthony Mitchell’s daughter and Justin’s sister, who was left to cope with the aftermath of their deaths while grappling with a painful sense of frustration. White, who was raised in Bradley County, Arkansas, was the last person her father called before the fire overtook their home. In a brief but chilling conversation, Anthony told her, “Baby, I’ve got to go. The fire has made it in my yard!”

White recalled that between her father’s call to her and a subsequent call to another sibling, there was at least an hour during which help could have potentially reached them. However, the Mitchells, both of whom used wheelchairs—Anthony as an amputee and Justin, who was bedridden due to cerebral palsy—were unable to evacuate in time. Despite the urgency, it appears that no rescue efforts arrived in time to save them.

“I just feel too that the state of California failed them,” White said, expressing her anger and grief over the failure to provide adequate assistance. She questioned whether there were barriers preventing the timely evacuation of her father and brother. “Could you not get there? Was something stopping you? What just what? Why?”

While Anthony Mitchell may have been able to leave the home without his son, White explained that her father would never have abandoned Justin. “He was not going to leave none of us behind,” she said. “He was going to be with us until his last breath, and that’s what he did.”

In addition to Anthony and Justin, the Mitchell family also mourns the loss of a son who was hospitalized at the time of the fire and survived. Anthony Mitchell leaves behind 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, many of whom are now left to carry on his legacy.

White, her husband, and children in Arkansas are now making plans to travel to California for a memorial service in honor of Anthony and Justin. However, the cost of the trip and lodging has posed a significant financial burden. To help cover expenses, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign, hoping for donations from the community and others moved by their tragic loss.

As Hajime White waits for answers regarding the circumstances surrounding her father and brother’s deaths, she holds onto the memories they shared—life lessons, voicemails, and pictures—while searching for closure. “I just want answers to why this has happened not only just to my dad and my brother but to the whole [state] of California,” she concluded.

Those wishing to support the family can contribute to the GoFundMe campaign to help with their travel and memorial costs.

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