Amid evacuation orders some stay behind on Cherokee Road

A Cherokee man stayed behind when evacuation orders were issued for the Bear Fire a week ago.

He talked with Action News Now and he says if a fire did come close he is beyond prepared to leave.

Since butte county emergency managers lifted evacuation orders for people who live on cherokee road.

Action news now reporter jafet serrato is live in chico... jafet, you talked with some who live in that area...what did you learn?

Julia...*som* people in that area left... but i spoke with one man who decided to stay put when the sheriff's office issued those evacuation orders (nats: car passing by) take a drive up this butte county road and you will find the home of mike morris.

"you can look around and you can say this is country" (nats: you are not supposed to go on the street.) the bear fire recently threatened his 2- acre proeprty.

"we did not evacuate when we got the evacuation order at midnight."

(nats: flames) morris says he knew how far away the flames were.

"we knew that there was no wind and we knew even if the wind kicked up to 70 miles an hour we would have time to get out of here."

Another barrier of protection?*a healthy dos* of defensible space.

"defensible space is no joke to us we maintain it.

If the worst happens as it did when the camp fire was here.

We give cal fire a fighting chance.

You give cal fire a fighting chance they'll knock it down."

(standup:) "morris tells me if his family has to absolutely evacuate because of a fire.

He has four trailers like these with all the supplies they need to survive.

We're taking you inside."

(nats: door knob) "the refrigerator works.

We have a cooler that we hide things."

This trailer has a shower, two beds and plenty of books.

"we could live in here forever if we have to."

Fire has never burned his home... but morris says if he is forced to leave... it's a short drive - just one mile -- from highway 70.

"there's no traffic james there's no line of people."

"we are not going to unpack our trailers until it rains and rains hard.

I mean that we are ready to go because one spark.

One lightning flash and we are in the same boat where it can be behind my house."

Morris tells me flames never reached