On November 8, 2018, one of the deadliest wildfires California has ever seen erupted, burning over 142,000 acres, over 19,000 homes, and killing almost 85 people. To put this into perspective, the Paradise Camp Fire burned an area of more than four times the size of San Francisco. The effects of this fire reached far and wide and hit many families in our own community as well.

   One of our very own Amador counselors, Mrs. Zarrinkhat, experienced the effects of this deadly fire through the loss of a family member and their loss of belongings. While many residential communities were forced to evacuate, her family members were not aware of this evacuation warning. So, when they saw the fire come closer to their home, they grabbed everything they could and tried to escape. While they were driving, “cars around them were catching on fire” and “their car was like an oven”, said Mrs. Zarrinkhat. People began getting out of their cars and running for their lives because the traffic was not going fast enough. “They genuinely thought they were going to die,” said Mrs. Zarrinkhat. Fortunately, they all made it out alive, but the trauma of their journey and the loss of everything they had will take a long time  to recover from. While Mrs. Zarrinkhat’s family all made it out safe and alive, her husband’s family experienced a greater loss. Her mother-in-law was staying at a retirement home facility and while she they were helping her escape, she actually passed in the fire.

    As we think about those lost in the fire and support the families who lost everything, our hearts are with Mrs. Zarrinkhat and her family in this hard time.  

   For those considering ways to help those affected by the fires, the California Fire Foundation has many resources for sending aid to those in need.