Firefighters Recover Woman's Wedding Ring from the Rubble of Her Home Destroyed in L.A. Fires

Victoria DeSantis said she had taken her rings off before the fire reached her home but forgot to take them with her when she fled

A woman says firefighters helped her find her missing wedding ring amid the rubble of her home that burned down during the Los Angeles wildfires.

Victoria DeSantis lived in Altadena for 18 years before her home burned down in the Eaton Fire, according to NBC affiliate KNBC-TV.

DeSantis said she had taken off all of her rings the day of the fire “because it was so dry,” and lotion made her jewelry slip off. She left them by the front door, hoping to grab them on the way out.

But when it came time to flee, DeSantis left her rings behind. She told Good Morning America that getting her daughter and dog to safety was her top priority during the early morning evacuation.

ADVERTISEMENT

Later, she realized she had left the rings behind. DeSantis said her husband consoled her, saying, “Don't worry about it. We'll get you another one.”

Related: Widow Finds Wedding Rings While Searching Through Rubble After Home Burns Down in L.A. Fires

Eventually, DeSantis and her family were able to return to where their home once stood. There, she spotted her engagement ring, which had melted in the fire, according to GMA.

But DeSantis still had one more ring left to find. She asked firefighters to help track it down, KNBC-TV reported. Then, they found it.

“They’re just like hands and knees digging through the ash,” she recalled, “and one of the guys says, 'I found a ring, but it’s not gold,’ and I said, ‘Oh my God, that’s my wedding band.’ ”

She added, “I could not for the life of me believe that this little tiny thing was found amongst ashes and debris."

ADVERTISEMENT

Related: 12 Survivors Share Harrowing Stories from Inside L.A.'s Historic Inferno: 'This Was Like Armageddon' (Exclusive)

The ring was found underneath pieces of her home’s roof, ceiling, furniture and walls, DeSantis told GMA.

She posed for a photo with the firefighters who helped her find the ring, one of the only things she saved from the fire.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“It made my heart happy, just for a moment, knowing I've lost everything,” DeSantis explained. “I left with two pairs of jeans and two sweaters and everything, all of my childhood memories, all of my children's childhood memories, everything is gone.”

She added, “There's not one thing saved, but I have my ring."

Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires.

Read the original article on People