Exactly one year after a downed power line forced hundreds to flee from their homes evacuees who experienced the Ford fire are still having flashbacks.

"Whenever I smell any type of wood burning I just almost start to have that sickness feeling because I remember how bad the smoke was," said Ford Fire evacuee Rio Wofford. But for Rio Wofford's older sister Falon the memory is a little different. I think of a lot of people lining up and how hurtful that was. It was like oh man they're here cause my house is going to burn down," said Falon Wofford.

But the Woffords were lucky as the fire burned past their house but took two others with it. "Everyday I'm thankful that we still have a house and we still have a neighborhood, the fact that this has grown back," said Falon Wofford.

At the Lockwood Fire Department, Chief Bill Rash has upgraded equipment, educated the public, and created a new attitude on how to fight wildland fires in the Lockwood area. "Everybody has the attitude if we can get their quicker, hit it harder, we'll be there for hours instead of days," said Rash. That attitude is something they've already put in place this year as they countdown the days before the fire season is over.

Lockwood Fire officials also opened a new emergency escape route to make sure Emerald Hills residents aren't trapped if a fire sweeps through the area again.