On Thursday, a blaze erupted close to the flashpoint for the deadliest wildfire in U.S. recent history. However, survivors of the 2018 Paradise blaze were worried that it could happen again.
The Dixie Fire had destroyed 3.5 miles (9 km) of timber and brush near Feather River Canyon in Butte County, and was now moving into Plumas County’s national forest land.
However, there was no containment and officials made sure that residents of the small communities of Pulga or east Concow were aware of their rights and warned them to evacuate.
The fire raced through steep terrain at about 10 miles (16 km) distance from Paradise. Paradise was a foothill community that was almost incinerated by Camp Fire, which claimed 85 lives.
Larry Peterson, whose Magalia home was spared the fire, stated that some of his neighbors were putting their belongings together to help them flee.
He said that if you have a fire from what happened, and another is on the horizon, it’s time to get worried.
Others bought water and other supplies for their homes.
Jennifer Younie, Paradise, stated that “we pretty much left with our clothes upon our backs” after the previous fire. “So this time, we’re looking to be more prepared”
Joyce Mclean’s house was destroyed by fire last time, but she rebuilt it and will rebuild it again, she said to the station.
Mclean stated, “We just have to take each day as it is and if it does happen, it happens.” “There isn’t much we can do.”
Ironically, the blackened scar from the previous fire was what stood between the fires and the homes.
According to Bill Connelly, Butte County Supervisor, “Everything’s pretty much burnt between them and fire,” he told the Sacramento Bee. “Some bushes have grown back, but they are not likely to be a threat at the moment.”
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, this blaze is just one of more than 70 active wildfires which have destroyed homes and burned through approximately 1,562 square miles (4.047 kilometers) of land in a dozen Western states.
The Bootleg Fire in southern Oregon, which is the most destructive wildfire in the United States, destroyed 20 homes and scorched an area greater than New York City. It threatened to destroy 2,000 structures in an area north of California, which has been ravaged by a drought that was unprecedented.
Dee and Tim McCarley saw trees burst into flames as they ran from the fire last week. They had delayed their departure to pack more things and search for their cat.
Tim McCarley, 67 years old, said that the sheriff’s department was there and said, “If you don’t leave here now, then your going to die.” He, his wife, and stepson rested Wednesday at a shelter at Klamath County Fairgrounds.
