Shelter: Sonora Senior Center, 540 Greenley Rd., Sonora, CA 95370
A livestock shelter is open at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds, 101 Frog Town Rd., Angels Camp, A 95222
Today, the Red Cross is partnering with the Salvation Army to provide meals, water and ice to Chinese Camp, which was evacuated when the fire broke out.
Blue Fire and Dillon Fire (Siskiyou County):
Animal shelters are open at the following locations:
Cat and large animals: Siskiyou Golden Fair, 1712 Fairlane Rd., Yreka, CA 96097
Dog shelter: Rescue Ranch, 2216 East Oberlin Rd., Yreka, CA 96097
Everyone is welcome at Red Cross shelters, including those with service animals. The Red Cross delivers help to anyone regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or citizenship status. Volunteers are onsite to provide visitors with a place to sleep, meals, beverages, snacks, comfort and care.
If possible, those who stay in a Red Cross shelter are encouraged to bring the following items to make their stay as comfortable as possible: prescription medications, items for pets, extra clothing, pillows, hygiene supplies, or comfort items. It is also recommended to bring special items for children such as diapers, formula or toys.
For more information on Red Cross disaster relief, recovery services and how to prepare for disasters, visit redcross.org/gethelp.
California Gold Country Region volunteer Darren Courtney has been honored with the Spirit of the Pacific Award for the month of December.
Courtney, whose regional volunteer roles include Sheltering Coordinator, Yuba/Sutter territory Disaster Action Team Lead, and Communications team photographer, has been a Red Cross volunteer for more than 25 years.
“He has consistently answered the call to deploy more than any other volunteer that is in my territory,” noted Community Disaster Program Manager Daryl White, who nominated Courtney for the award.
“Darren embraces all of our core values and delivers our mission with the upmost compassion and respect for our clients, those who have been displaced by a disaster and are probably at one of the lowest times in their lives. Several years ago, Darren saved a life in the shelter he was working in by giving a client Narcan, he recognized the need and stepped in.”
All Red Cross team members are encouraged to work together and personify a set of cultural values and behaviors that exemplify these Pacific Division ideals. The Spirit of the Pacific Award is specifically designed to acknowledge and reward these outstanding efforts on the part of employees and volunteers.
Northwest Region Community Disaster Program Manager Kelsey Smith deployed has alongside Courtney. In his nomination she said, “Darren has truly been one of the most impactful relationships that I have made on any deployment and probably throughout my entire time in the organization I think I can speak for many others, as well. When I think of my ideal version of a Red Crosser, Darren is the first person who comes to mind.”
In a note to the California Gold Country Region, Courtney said, “I am deeply honored to have received the Spirit of the Pacific Award from you and our amazing organization. This recognition is a testament to the shared efforts, unwavering dedication, and tireless spirit of the American Red Cross. I couldn’t do it without the support of leadership, staff, and fellow volunteers.”
Carla A. Gunning celebrating the birthday boy, Harley Johnson
On a recent day inside the Red Cross Shelter in Cameron Park, volunteers helped one young man celebrate his 20th birthday. Harley Johnson and his family evacuated from the mountain community of Volcanoville during the Crozier Fire. Staff and shelter workers arranged for birthday cake and a balloon and sang “Happy Birthday”. One volunteer drew Harley out of his shyness, dancing and singing with enthusiasm. “I’m real big on morale-boosting,” says Carla A. Gunning. “When people are in a situation like this, it’s easy to get discouraged, to feel lost, not having that sense of normalcy or routine.”
Carla first volunteered for the Red Cross during Hurricane Katrina. Then, after time in the military, she recently returned to the Red Cross.
Carla has a message for anyone who is thinking of volunteering for the Red Cross. “Just do it! It’s very rewarding, and you’re able to see the difference you can make in peoples’ lives, whether it’s getting them something to eat, or giving them a hug or a smile, or saying ‘Hey! happy birthday!’”
If you are interested in volunteering with the Red Cross, visit redcross.org/volunteer or call 1-800-REDCROSS.
Red Cross volunteer, Carla A. Gunning | Photography by: Marcia Antipa, American Red Cross
“The Sheriff banged on my door at two in the morning and said to get out. I had a go bag all packed but forgot to bring it.”
Beverly Stevens evacuated her mountain home in Swansboro, CA, escaping the Crozier Fire that threatened her community. The fire started on August 6. She had to leave behind three cats and her horse.
The 81-year-old was staying at the now-closed Red Cross Shelter at the Cameron Park Community Center. She has an upbeat attitude, saying, “The food’s good here, and my daughter’s friend brought me a bag of my favorites – Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups!”
The Red Cross, along with partners from El Dorado County and the Salvation Army, provided hot food, a safe place to sleep and other services at this shelter.
American Red Cross volunteers continue to monitor fire activity all over California. If you would like to help those affected by the California Wildfires, visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
By Michelle DeMeyer, Sierra-Delta Chapter Board and Tiffany Circle Member
Michelle DeMeyer visiting a Park Fire evacuation shelter at the Neighborhood Church in Chico. Michelle is a proud member of our Sierra-Delta Chapter Board of Directors and a member of the American Red Cross Tiffany Circle.
As a Red Cross Sierra-Delta Chapter Board member, and member of the Tiffany Circle, I felt an immense duty to assist wherever possible. My deep roots in the community—born in Butte County and raised in Glenn County—only intensified this drive. With multiple siblings living in Chico, including a brother just two and a half miles from the evacuation line, the fire’s impact was personal and immediate.
This wasn’t my first experience aiding fire victims in Butte County. In 2018, during the Camp Fire which had a devastating impact on the town of Paradise, I volunteered with World Central Kitchen, preparing and delivering food bags to first responders and evacuees in hotels. The Camp Fire’s devastation, where many of my friends lost everything, remains a poignant memory. The Park Fire served as a stark reminder of how swiftly tragedy can strike.
My experience during the Park Fire also fueled my determination to learn more about fire prevention and emergency response. I realized the importance of community preparedness and the need for timely evacuation plans. Witnessing the resilience and unity of the affected communities further strengthened my commitment to volunteer work and disaster relief efforts. The Park Fire incident prompted me to collaborate with local organizations to organize fundraising events and awareness campaigns, aiming to support both individuals affected by the disaster and the ongoing wildfire prevention initiatives. It’s crucial to channel the lessons learned from these tragic events into proactive measures that can help communities better anticipate and respond to future wildfires.
The Park Fire began on July 24, 2024, in the dry and dense vegetation near Bidwell Park, east of Chico. Triple-digit temperatures and high wind gusts fueled the explosive growth of the fire. By Saturday, July 27, the fire had ravaged 350,000 acres with zero percent containment. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for tens of thousands of residents in Butte, Shasta, and Tehama counties, prompting the rapid establishment of Red Cross- and county-managed shelters.
On Saturday, my wife and I arrived at the Neighborhood Church shelter in Chico, ready to assist. We joined the onsite Red Cross team just before lunch, helping to organize and distribute meals to those in need. Due to an increased number of evacuation orders, the shelter was quickly filling up with additional evacuees, which meant we needed more meals than originally planned. Thankfully, we have partners, like World Central Kitchen who could quickly deliver additional lunches, ensuring everyone was fed. Collaboration and planning among organizations like this helps ensure the community needs are met.
Amidst the tragedy, while some people chose to camp in the parking lot and come inside when needed for resources, other individuals sought refuge inside the shelter on cots. One man, lying on a cot and quietly crying, caught my attention. Kneeling beside him, I asked how he was doing. “I’m just happy to be alive and have my photos. It is all I have left,” he said.
Listening to his story, I learned this was not his first evacuation. He had also been displaced during the Camp Fire in 2018. Together, we shared tears and heartfelt moments that will forever hold a special place in my heart.
These are the moments where the Red Cross mission is fulfilled—when compassion, connection, and community come together in unexpected ways.
The Neighborhood Church in Chico, a joint Red Cross/Butte County shelter, was opened in response to the rapidly expanding Park Fire. The shelter currently houses dozens of evacuees, primarily from small communities in the hills above Chico. All are hoping they will soon hear that they can return to their homes.
I chatted with one evacuee under a shade tree outside the shelter. She told me her story, as many evacuees are apt to do in difficult times such as this. She asked that her name and photo not be used in this article.
She told me of having to evacuate six years ago during the Camp Fire in Paradise. She lost everything in that fire. Four years ago, she returned to her community in Paradise. When asked why she returned, she explained to me that Paradise is her home, her community. Simply put, she belongs there.
Yesterday, she was again evacuated from her home. The Park Fire had exploded over the course of a few days and her community of Paradise was again under evacuation watch. She made the decision to immediately leave her home. “Better safe than sorry, and I remember so clearly how quickly the Camp Fire overran our homes. I headed for this shelter to be safe and to wait.”
As we sat under that tree, she smiled and knew she was okay for now. “All I can do is pray.”
If you are interested in helping evacuees of the wildfires in California, please make a financial donation at redcross.org/donate.
You can also roll up your sleeves and become a Red Cross volunteer by visiting redcross.org/volunteer.
Just how food and supplies expire, the American Red Cross needs to retire its emergency response vehicles every few years.
Why?
“Imagine showing up to your work … in a 1972 Datsun,” said Bob Willmon, Disaster Action Team Captain and Logistics Co-Lead for the California Gold Country Region. “That’s about where our existing ERV status in this region is. You need to upgrade once in a while.”
The modern ERV has lots of functional amenities like two rows of shelves, sturdy storage and even a pop-out back window to more easily distribute aid in crisis situations.
“These fires, these emergencies, they almost never happen on a beautiful 70 degree day,” Willmon said. “They’re always rainy, they’re always cold, it’s always in the middle of the night. So to have a vehicle like this to have a platform to do what we do to help people is awesome.”
The ERV is based on the Mercedes Sprinter and drives as easily as a sedan, according to some volunteers. Among many other things, it comes with a CB radio that allows for communication with the command center even when traditional lines are down. It’s also more fuel efficient than previous models, so is a great investment in efficiency and maintenance.
The vehicle can fit three people while driving, and up to five or six when stationary, turning into a quiet space for decompressing.
“The energy that goes on in an emergency scene is palatable,” Willmon said. “When you can come in here and close the doors, block out all that kind of stuff, they can sit in here and take a break. And our volunteers … can sit down with them and calm them down.”
Click here to learn more about the ERV and contribute toward our ERV fundraising campaign.
Isabella Stigen and her boyfriend were camping in Dru Barner Campground near Georgetown, Calif., when they received the notice to evacuate due to the Mosquito Fire. Thankfully, she says, they were in a box truck they had recently bought so they could safely bring their dog and new kitten with them for the trip.
Isabella says they were on their way out when they saw a litter of abandoned kittens. As the evacuation order loomed, they tried to help.
“There were three, and the other two just scattered. They seemed strong. But this one – it was almost like she picked me,” Isabella says.
“There wasn’t enough room for two trucks at our family’s home, so we are just happy we get to be here,” Isabella Stigen says.
Gypsy, as the new kitten is called, is safe with her new family as they wait for evacuation orders to be lifted. They are all staying in the box truck together in the parking lot of the American Red Cross shelter at Sierra Community College in Rocklin where they have access to regular meals, facilities and showers, a mobile laundry service, along with comfort and care from Red Cross volunteers.
“There wasn’t enough room for two trucks at our family’s home, so we are just happy we get to be here,” Isabella said.
Help those affected by wildfires and other disasters across the nation by making a financial donation, big or small, to the Red Cross. For more information on how you can donate call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcross.org/donate.
Diedre Cazneaux took it upon herself to run the kitchen at the Red Cross shelter in Siskiyou County.
By Judith Lester, Volunteer
Deidra Cazneaux’s deployment with the California Gold Country Region of the American Red Cross to the McKinney Fire was her first, but it wasn’t obvious.
The McKinney Fire in Siskiyou County displaced some 2,000 residents in late July. That’s when Cazneaux looked straight into the face of the disaster and went right to work.
“I just walked into the shelter kitchen and took over,” she said.
In her days at the shelter, Cazneaux always did her job with a smile, chatting with each evacuee and even advocating for them to ensure partner agencies who provided meals were offering nutritious options.
Shelter manager Bill Hart described Cazneaux, saying, “Deidra is an incredibly positive force in the face of controlled chaos.”
In recognition of her work at the shelter and her positive attitude while on the job, Cazneaux was presented with a Red Cross Disaster Cycle Services challenge coin.
“It’s always been in my heart to serve people,” Cazeneaux said, adding: “It’s an avenue for me to be who God wants me to be.”
Visit redcross.org/volunteer to explore the many opportunities to serve as a Red Cross volunteer.
Harlene Schwander lost her home in the McKinney Fire and regularly expressed her gratitude for the help she’s received since she evacuated.
By Judith Lester, Volunteer
Harlene Schwander hadn’t driven in years. But she drove herself to the American Red Cross Shelter at the Weed Community Center when her home was destroyed in Siskiyou County’s McKinney Fire.
Schwander was not shy about expressing her appreciation for people who gave her clothing, comfort and care while she was at our shelter.
She told her life story and the circumstances of her evacuation to several news reporters who visited the Weed shelter.
Schwander said she’s planning to volunteer for the American Red Cross after this experience.
“I am amazed at how much you help people mentally and physically— you just buoy people!”
“I am overwhelmed by your kindness,” Schwander said, adding that is why she is planning to join the Red Cross team.
Gold Country News and Notes 