With more than 1,400 homes burned and at least five lives lost, the Turlock community is coming together to help those who have suddenly lost everything in their lives.
As residents of California’s Northern Central Valley return back to their homes that were endangered by the Butte fire, some find that they have absolutely nothing to return to.
Turlock firefighters were dispatched to Calaveras County to attempt to fight the wild fire and save as many homes as they could.
“For the first few days, the weather was 105 degrees and we were in all of our gear sweating. It was in the middle of the day and the conditions made it all dramatic and difficult in the heat,” Turlock Fire Department Chief David Bickle said.
Once 75 percent of the fire was contained, Bickle and his co-firefighters, Dale Melden and Steven Kramer, were released from their assignment that lasted nine days.
“We received a ton of support from everyone. When we were up there, everyone thanked us when we were at a restaurant or out at the grocery store,” Bickle said. “Within 20 minutes after coming back to Turlock, the mayor came to see how we were doing. It’s very rewarding to be apart of something bigger than just helping our city.”
Turlock’s support didn’t stop there.
The office of Turlock Journal proudly announced on their social media outlets that they were gladly accepting donations for those who lost their houses and everything in them.
“Well, as a Phi Sigma Sigma, I had a hole in my heart for philanthropy. I thought how could we take this upon ourselves to help out, you know,” Digital Media Director Krista Messer said.
“I talked to my publisher and he said yeah [we could open our office for donations]. We have a backroom and our storage got filled up twice,” Messer said.
“We didn’t draw a line to what could be donated. People gave us baby formula, water and lots and lots of bags of clothes. We had to stop accepting clothes because there was so much,” Messer said.
As a result of Turlock’s outpour of support, the donations had to be carried in eight truckloads and a donated U-Haul.
The proceeds traveled to San Joaquin fairgrounds where the items got sorted.
Other businesses, such as Get Fit Modesto, also opened up their offices as a donation hot spot. It is estimated that $1.4 million have now gone out to Butte and Valley Fire victims.
Turlock Journal stopped receiving donations Sept. 18, but there are still ways you can donate.
Text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation or go to http://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.
Local radio station, KAT Country 103.3, will be hosting a benefit concert on Sept. 23 at Rookies Bar & Grill at 7 p.m. Performers include Waterloo Revival and The Cadillac Three. Tickets are $10 at the door.