Already, 2018 is one of the most devastating California wildfire seasons ever—a total of 7,579 fires so far. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is visiting some of the still-burning zones yesterday and today.
Four fires began burning in California on November 8. That day, the so-called “Camp Fire” consumed the town of Paradise, population 27,000. The Washington Post lists the fire as “the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history.” The blaze destroyed about 7,700 homes. Tragically, at least 48 people have died; many are still missing.
Harold Taylor received a call Thursday morning to evacuate immediately. He saw flames behind his house and left with the clothes on his back. He barely made it out.
The cause of the fires remains unclear. But two utility companies reported equipment trouble around the same time. The companies are now under investigation.
President Donald Trump is blaming “gross mismanagement of the forests.” And despite pushback from many California officials, he may be partly correct. A recent Little Hoover Commission report found that the state’s policies for the last 100 years have left forests susceptible to fires, stating, “The costs of long neglecting and mismanaging forests have become an unsustainable burden in California.” Previously, forestry managers set low-intensity fires every so often. The practice kept forests and undergrowth from becoming too dense.
Linda Rawlings was on a fishing trip when the Camp Fire broke out. Her neighbors opened the back gate so her three dogs could escape before they fled the flames themselves. Rawlings’ home burnt to the ground. The dogs were picked up several days later waiting patiently in the charred remains of their home.
Churches in the area have become housing, food, counseling, and information centers for people with nowhere to go. What an opportunity to minister to hearts, minds, and bodies!
(Flames consume a home as the Camp Fire roars through Paradise, California. AP Photo)
