TEHAMA COUNTY, Calif. — Victims of the park fire were connected to aid services in Red Bluff this week.
The local assistance center, located at the Red Bluff Community Center on Jackson Street, is run by Tehama County personnel, including the local sheriff’s office, and supported by groups such as State Emergency Services, Cal Fire, the American Red Cross and Disabled Veteran Service.
Resources available range from personal care items and gift cards to grants and more.
Randy Seaman, a park fire survivor who sought help, told us about his experience evacuating the flames.
“We had almost no time to get out,” Seaman said, adding, “It was bad. We had just bought a trailer, thrown everything in it and got out. I had to leave my horses there because it was too fast to do anything for them. But I lost one horse and the other is missing, probably down in Battle Creek Canyon right now. The people here have been really helpful, especially the veterans have really helped us with a lot of things.”
Andy Houghtby, lieutenant of the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office, said, “They not only get financial help or counseling here, but also pastoral care.”
He added: “We opened the local assistance center for the survivors of the park fire so that they have a one-stop shop. They can go and talk to authorities, they can help them replace their lost documents, they can talk to insurance agents… The point of the local assistance center is to give these people the resources they need.”
The center has resources to help fire survivors both physically and mentally. It is open to anyone affected by the Park Fire, whether you have become homeless, your home has been damaged, or you have suffered a total loss.
On August 16 and 17, the Help Center will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
