Yankee Hill Fire Safe Council

Marji, the chair of our organization called me at 7:15 am concerned that the smoke or haze she saw was a wildfire.  I live 10 miles away in the south part of our community of Concow/Yankee Hill.  With her on the phone I walked outside onto my driveway and saw the explosive cloud and knew it was an established wildfire that was going to impact her.  I could hear her wind chimes as if someone was slamming them around.  We called 911 to be sure it was reported and then she hung up the phone, packed and left having to drive through flames.  I hung up and began to call all the people we knew in the north end of Concow.  The fast moving fire now we know as the Camp Fire was already killing, destroying and ravaging our community.  People scrambling for their lives.  Marji made it to my home along with other Concow residents evacuating.  Cars wrecked as residents flee for their lives, they had to abandon cars that later succumbed to the fire and falling tree debris.   We knew it wasn't good for us and for the Town of Paradise that neighbors us.  The 50 mph Jarbo winds did what we knew and feared and that was to rip through Concow and cross the West Branch of the Feather and continue its ravage into the densely populated community of Paradise and Magalia.  We need help - over 113,000 acres have burned, 6,500 homes destroyed, 250 businesses destroyed, 29 confirmed fatalities, and these are early numbers.

We serve and know the multiple communities affected by the recent California wildfires.  Our organization has been instrumental in post fire recovery and effectively reaching those who really need it.  We are currently assisting Butte County with post fire relief from last summer's wildfires.  The Fire Recovery Fund will support immediate Basic Human Needs and continue to help with long term disaster support.