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SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California are helping people who have been displaced due to recent wildfires that have scorched the area, according to a news release from Mormon Newsroom.
Several fire agencies from Utah also were sending crews Saturday to help battle the flames.
Allan and Veronica Darrimon lost their home in Santa Rosa on Monday. Allan Darrimon is a Mormon bishop with a congregation of more than 500 people.
“I’ve been keeping busy,” he said. “Even if we don’t know it today, you just jump in and start doing something, and all those small things start adding up and it helps you cope.”
The Darrimons haven’t been able to get back into their neighborhood yet to survey their property, but they have heard others say there’s nothing left of their house but ashes.
The fires have destroyed more than 5,000 structures and knocked out power to homes and businesses in the Bay Area of northern California. More than 30 people have died and thousands have been evacuated.
The evacuees can get a shower at a nearby gym, and Mormon missionaries come to the meetinghouse during the day to help clean. Other volunteers greet guests and provide the evacuees with food and meals donated by local members.
At least nine different Utah agencies were sending fire crews west, according to a news release from Unified Fire Authority. They left Saturday morning in a convoy headed to California.
The Salt Lake City Fire Department and Unified Fire Authority both were sending two engines and about a dozen people.
Fire departments in Provo, West Valley City, West Jordan, South Jordan and Draper were each sending one engine and a crew.
The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands already has sent 10 engines and several crews from around Utah to fight the California fires.
“California is seeking any resources they can to help relieve the burden on local firefighters who are exhausted from continuous operations,” Utah Division of Emergency Management spokesman Joe Dougherty said in the release. “The current fire outbreak in California has been one of the deadliest and most destructive in the Golden State's history.”
In Santa Rosa this weekend, local LDS leaders will visit church members affected by the fires.
Santa Rosa Stake President Gary Kitchen said the Salvation Army has dropped off some needed supplies at the meetinghouse for the evacuees. A local resident dropped off fresh tomatoes from his garden.
“People have donated, brought in bedding, someone donated a bunch of new pillows, and people have brought cots,” Kitchen said. “I just feel happy to be able to give and help, and most of my job has just been to comfort and making sure people are comfortable and helping in the kitchen.”
Veronica Darrimon said even though she lost her home, she was happy to have her health and her family.
“It was important to help everyone in the congregation understand that we were blessed with our lives and we're in a warm place to recover from this serious challenge,” she said. “We are just thankful to God that we are here.”
