Written by Christina Chang
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Ida Eva Zielinska
The Park Fire in Northern California broke out on the afternoon of July 24, 2024, Pacific Time. The wildfire originated in the mountains near Chico in Butte County. The fire spread rapidly and continued to expand. As of August 8, it had become the fourth-largest single wildfire in California history. On August 5, Butte County established a Local Assistance Center (LAC) in Chico, where various relief organizations assembled to provide emergency assistance to the survivors, expecting to keep the LAC open for two weeks. A Tzu Chi USA Northwest Region volunteer team immediately set up a service station to register the needs of the survivors and offer the most timely assistance and care.
The Park Fire spread over a large area, affecting four counties: Butte, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama. Butte County was where the Camp Fire originated in November 2018, a wildfire so fierce it obliterated the town of Paradise overnight and caused the death of 85 residents. The city of Chico, which is adjacent to the current wildfire, is only 20 kilometers away from Paradise. According to data from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), as of August 8, 636 buildings have burned to the ground, and 49 buildings have been affected. Fortunately, there are no reports of casualties.
On August 1, Tzu Chi USA Northwest Region volunteers involved in the emergency relief effort investigate the current situation in the Cohasset community, one of the Park Fire disaster areas that CAL FIRE has reopened. Photo/Minjhing Hsieh
Park Fire Survivors Arrive at the Local Assistance Center
Julia White Sanchez originally lived in Santa Cruz, south of the Bay Area. She experienced the August 2020 California lightning wildfires and the landslide disaster caused by heavy rain in 2023. Both times, she received care and assistance from Tzu Chi. For her two daughters to have a safe living environment and complete their high school education, Sanchez moved to Chico in May 2024. The Park Fire struck without warning and forced her to evacuate immediately. She can’t return yet and still doesn’t know the condition of her home. In less than five years, Sanchez has encountered three natural disasters. Sitting before the volunteers and recalling everything, she cried, “I’m so tired.”
However, the Tzu Chi eco-blankets and Master Cheng Yen’s red packets (symbolically carrying her prayers and blessings), which she received during each Tzu Chi disaster relief distribution, are among her warmest and most precious memories of those challenging times. Sanchez wiped away the tears from her eyes. She repeatedly thanked the Tzu Chi volunteers for always appearing by her side when disaster struck and giving their heartfelt care to her family, which has sadly experienced many trials and tribulations due to these catastrophes.
Meeting Tzu Chi volunteers made me feel that everything should be fine and should get better.
David Opperman sat before the volunteers and recounted everything he’d experienced recently: “I went through a divorce, I lost my business and job, and now I’m hit by a wildfire. I even lost my place to live.” Reaching middle age, Opperman finds all his life’s savings gone due to the hardships of life, and his home and possessions turned to ash by the sudden Park Fire. Feelings of helplessness and despair consume him. He intermittently chokes as he recounts his predicament, yet manages to hold back his tears. Still, Opperman eyes can’t hide his extreme sadness.
The volunteers listened to him, empathized with his emotions, and comforted him by saying that Tzu Chi would always be there for him. They told him Tzu Chi would soon start distributing emergency relief cash cards to help the survivors through these difficult times. A volunteer put a Tzu Chi blanket in Opperman’s only remaining possession, a backpack, and encouraged him to stay positive; with everyone’s support, he would survive this low point. Before leaving, Opperman hugged the volunteer. He then took his bag with the warm blanket inside and left the Local Assistance Center, heading toward the next chapter in his life.
Homes Lost in the Fire
When Patti Colin returned home after the Park Fire, all that was left was rubble and ash. She recalled that the afternoon the wildfire hit, thick smoke quickly engulfed the town. As Colin was not home, her husband hurriedly packed a few bags and escaped. It would be more than a week before the disaster area lockdown lifted. When she returned, the previously green forest was charred black, and the wind still carried acrid smoke. As for the couple’s home, it was gone forever.
When Patti Colin returns home after the Park Fire burns away from the area, she only finds ruins and ash. Photo/Judy Liao
Even if everything goes well, it will take several years to rebuild my home. What's worse is that I am already 72 years old this year. I don't know if the good things I once had can be regained.
The possibility of rebuilding her home seemed a long way off. Thinking of the many procedures and official permits needed, Colin became sad. However, the short-term emergency challenges brought by the wildfire are difficulties felt in the moment and will pass. Colin looked at the Tzu Chi volunteers, who had quickly come to care for her, and said with emotion: “We’re very grateful for your help.” She hopes that in the future, the rain will moisten the earth again, fade away the charred black, and restore the greenery along with faith in the future and life.
The Joy of Reuniting with Tzu Chi Volunteers
“I was so happy when I saw the Tzu Chi volunteers because I can finally give you my bamboo bank,” Carey Livingston said excitedly as she handed the volunteers a bamboo bank full of coins.
Carey Livingston works for Butte County Behavioral Health, one of the organizations providing services to Park Fire survivors at the Local Assistance Center. In 2018, the Camp Fire destroyed her home. As a disaster survivor, she received timely care from Tzu Chi. The volunteers’ kindness and generosity to Livingston and her family deeply touched her, and she has always remembered putting change into the bamboo bank daily since, hoping to return the love one day. Because of her busy work schedule, Livingston regretted not having time to find Tzu Chi volunteers to return her now-full bamboo bank. “When I came to the Local Assistance Center to do our relief work and saw Tzu Chi volunteers here, I was so happy,” she said joyfully.
During the Camp Fire distribution, Tzu Chi volunteers told me that bamboo banks are the main source of donations for Tzu Chi to help the survivors. I did as the volunteers said, and every time I dropped a coin in, I would make a wish and pray.
According to Tzu Chi volunteer Wanguo Chi, Tzu Chi has received more than 100 applications for assistance by registering Park Fire survivors at the Local Assistance Center. The Tzu Chi USA Northwest Region team is now preparing cash card distributions that will take place in the days ahead as emergency relief to alleviate their short-term needs. “We will hold a distribution in Chico on Saturday, August 10, and expect that 72 households will benefit. A distribution on Sunday is also in preparation, and we hope another 50 to 60 families will get help,” she reported. In addition to cash cards, the volunteers will also distribute eco-blankets and bamboo banks.
The Tzu Chi USA Northwest Region volunteer team is actively preparing for Park Fire cash card distributions to provide emergency assistance as soon as possible. Photo/Judy Liao
While wildfires have little mercy in the destruction they cause, the survivors need not feel utterly helpless. Tzu Chi volunteers will arrive without delay, bringing heartfelt care and warm hugs to soothe panic and distress. Your love and support make our disaster relief possible!
