BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. – With COVID-19 changing the way fire evacuees take shelter, many people across Northern California are having to sleep in their cars as they wait to find out if their homes are still standing.

For Jeanette, who didn’t want to share her last name, it’s been less than two years since she escaped the deadly Camp Fire in Paradise. Now, she finds herself evacuated at the Butte County Fairgrounds with the same uncertainty she dealt with in 2018. 

What You Need To Know

  • The North Complex Fire has destroyed about 200 structures and threatens 22,000+ others

  • Authorities say 10 people are confirmed dead in the fire, 16 others are missing

  • The fire is raging in Butte County, which was home to the devastating Camp Fire in 2018

  • One long-time area resident said the recent fires are unlike anything she's seen in her lifetime

 

“It’s a little more stressful this time, and at the same time, it’s like, I got this, because I know what to expect, but it’s entirely different at the same time,” Jeanette said.

Jeanette relocated to Kelly Ridge, near Oroville, after losing everything in the Camp Fire. The community she now calls home was forced to evacuate early Wednesday morning as the flames from the Bear Fire, now known as the North Complex Fire, threatened her neighborhood.

“There’s a big element of, really? Again? It’s not something you even want to go through once, but you gotta do what you gotta do,” Jeanette added.

The North Complex Fire has destroyed about 200 structures and continues to threaten more than 22,000. According to the Butte County Sherriff’s Office, 10 people have lost their lives in the fire, while 16 more remain missing. 

As for Jeanette, she has no clue if her home is still standing, but she’s staying strong thanks to the presence of her kids and grandson at the evacuation site.

“I’ll fall apart after…and I have a couple of times. I made it through the whole Camp Fire without ever really falling apart. Anger is a good tool that way,” Jeanette said.

Despite having to evacuate again, Jeanette’s not yet ready to call another place home. She’s lived in Butte County her whole life and has no intention to leave even as fires in California continue to worsen.

“In Northern California we have fires – they destroy everything – and lately we’ve had some really interesting ones that I’ve never seen in my life,” Jeanette explained.

For now, Jeanette’s relieved her son’s house is safe from the flames, and says she’s praying she’ll soon receive the same news about her home.