What You Can Do To Help Victims Of The Valley Fire

A fountain and statue of an angel stand outside a home destroyed by fire Sunday, September 13, 2015, in Middletown, Calif. California Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in Lake and Napa Counties after a wildfire charred more than 60 square miles within 12 hours, prompting thousands to flee their homes.

Frank Chong has collaborated with administrators, faculty, trustees and students to provide aid and support to fellow staff and students affected by the Valley Fire in Lake County.

There have been so many donations of food and other supplies that officials are now turning away those types of donations, according to local media. “All you could see was this big wall of fire coming toward us, nearly as tall as the (Twin Pine) casino”. The woman, Barbara McWilliams, is the only confirmed fatality so far in the Valley Fire.

“My little sister started crying in the vehicle so I had to shove her head down so she couldn’t see it”, Dominic said. She suffered from multiple sclerosis and couldn’t get out of her house on her own.

“It sounded like an explosion”, said 9-year-old evacuee, Dominic. Their horses, loaded into trailers, also had made the trip with them, but like other Lake County livestock owners, the couple were unable to save their cattle and had to abandon them to the galloping flames. Unfortunately, some people left so fast that they had to leave animals behind. One person was killed and four firefighters were injured. One woman died in her home. But they could be staying with relatives, on vacation or elsewhere and not impacted by the fire.

Firefighters with the Marin County Fire Department’s Tamalpais Fire…

Some residents defied the mandatory evacuation order.

All of the resort’s guests now are people affected by or fighting the fire.