Around this time last year, the state of California experienced its most heartbreaking disaster in recorded history. The wildfires of 2018 cost more than three billion dollars in damages, and took the lives of 90 civilians and six firefighters. Countless families lost their homes, pets, and belongings. 

“We headed the shortest way to our daughters in Chico, normally a 35-minute drive, but a mile and a half we were turned around to go the longer way. We later found out that if we had gone that direction, we would have been driving through the flames,” wildfire victim Gerald Walters said.

Walters gives credit to God for not only his safe evacuation, but the struggles his family overcame in the months that followed. They now have a home in Lake, California, and have replaced as much as possible. Even though there are a lot of negatives in this tragedy, Walters also saw some positives.  He focuses on his religion, being thankful, and being hopeful.

“The biggest thing is that there is a God that also cares and has been there for us through this whole thing. There has been so many things that have happened that could only happen because there is a God that cares for us and will be there when we need him the most,” Walters said.

Nearly a year later, society has to ask one question, what is being done to protect California from another fiery destruction? When asked what we can do as residents of Ripon when it comes to fire safety, Ripon Fire Chief Dennis Bitters replied,

“Be careful with any open flame and know that any ignition source can cause a fire when a fuel such as dry grass, brush and vegetation is present, and be rapidly spread with slight winds,” said Ripon Fire Chief Dennis Bitters.

After all this time, we are still seeing the damages from this tragedy in our state. As citizens we must do our part to protect our hills by following the advice of our selfless firemen,

“In our area, wildfires are not as prevalent, although we still have some high risk areas along our river and in some other areas. The best thing that we can all do is be mindful of the hazards of dry vegetation and be fire safe,” said Chief Bitters.