Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire

“When I woke up, there were 30 foot flames in my backyard.”

“Embers the size of basketballs.”

“I saw someone incinerate.”

“I lost everything.”

“We drove off the road and through the forest to get out.”

“I grabbed my wife and my dog and got out of there.”

“Our 80 year old neighbor refused to leave without her chihuahua.”

“I woke up in hell.”

“I made it.”

“I’m thankful to be alive.”

“My family is here.”

“We’re ok. My wife and I are sleeping in my truck. We’re gonna make it.”

“We’re blessed.”

The stories I heard in just one day spent at evacuation centers, campgrounds, casino parking lots, gas stations, and shopping centers. Their stories, faces and courage are engraved in my heart. On November 8, 2018, the most devastating fire in Californian history started on Camp Creek Road near the town of Pulga in what’s being labeled, the Camp Fire. As I am writing this blog, according to NC4, it has burned 152,250 acres, taken 81 lives with still 870 missing.

Two days after the fire hit I contacted my friend, Pastor Bill DeVore and his family who pastors the Missionary Baptist Church in Oroville where many evacuees were. I offered help any way I could. I felt helpless, but God convicted me that something needed to be done.  We had communicated back and forth for a few days and other pastors reached out to him with the same convictions. On Monday, November 19, 2018, we met at the church there in Oroville and dropped off, sorted and dispersed truck loads and trailer loads of donations. We sat that evening with several Pastors from around the state as Jerry Smith, representing the American Baptist Association’s Disaster Relief, gave us a breakdown in reports he gathered from FEMA, Red Cross, and other agencies. We began then to strategize and brainstorm what we could do. It was evident this task was not going to get accomplished in a day, a week, or even a month. Less than a mile away, the Red Cross Evacuation Center had hundreds of people sleeping in tents and cars. We were told of several of these housing centers with some three or four times the size in population.

The DeVore’s graciously opened their home to myself, Pastor Russell Bailey from Clovis and Pastor Kevin Parsons from Visalia. Bright and early we woke up the next day with a delicious breakfast supplied by a deacon’s wife. I could see Pastor Bill was eager to get out there; we all were. The church there in Oroville had been sent numerous monetary donations enabling them to purchase Walmart and Arco cards. The three pastors and myself loaded up in Pastor Bill’s car and headed to the FEMA post at the Feather Falls Casino. Still pretty early in the morning, not very many were stirring. I don’t recall a single time any of us pretended to know what we were doing, but all of us with a same heart and mind for the people.

That said, to avoid any trouble with FEMA, we approached their station find out if it would be ok to talk with the people. As Pastor Kevin continuously said at each stop we went to and person we met, “We’re just here to love on these people, ask them what they need, find out if we can pray with them. We just want them to know they’re loved.” And so that’s just what he said as we were introduced to the director of the station there. She looked at us with a quiver in her lip, “can say a prayer for me? We lost one of our own yesterday.” Immediately we gathered around her and begin to pray. Jacqueline issued a charge to Pastor Bill. “These are your people. This is your community. They need you.”

With that, we headed into the RV lot where the evacuees were staying. We spoke to Murphy and his brother with their two dogs who lost everything but the clothes on their back. Jeff, who lost everything, and all he wanted for the days ahead was a pallet to get his tent off the ground before the rain came. These people didn’t have the best language, and it may not be popular to say, but I thank God no one interrupted them and told them they were being “offensive.” We encouraged them, loved them, prayed with them, and that’s how it should be. These people were hurting, yet content with knowing they were safe. From there, we traveled to another casino where their RV Park was full of evacuees. We caught some outside their RV’s and spoke to them.

It dawned on one of us though that because this lot was full, others probably had to make camp outside the RV lot without water and electrical hookups. As we were leaving the RV Park, parked at the neighboring gas station was an RV. It’s door was open. Myself and Pastor Bill were a little hesitant to approach the RV, but this is where God used us as a group because it didn’t stop Pastor Kevin. Kevin approached the RV with a friendly hello and was met with one likewise. After offering what we could do to help, the immediate response (as was with every single person we spoke to) was, “we’re fine, thank you.” Kevin was persistent in wanting to help them. There was an evident hesitation because they didn’t want religion. I don’t remember quite what led to this next moment, but the image of this man who looked a few years older than I did, begin to weep as he began telling Kevin he lost everything is instilled in me. Bill approached the door of the RV and began to encourge him and his friend who were inside. He stepped up onto the RV and began ministering to them as he gave them the cards he had and said we’d be back with blankets. We all walked away from Coyote and Andy’s RV silient for a moment as our meeting put this in perspective. While money, clothes, gas, blankets and other countless items are needed, what people needed most, was love.

From there, we traveled over to the Oroville Red Cross Evacuation Center which was located at the Church of the Nazarene. We heard all sorts of stories. Stephanie and her friend ran out for their lives and were only able to get their dog and get out. When they arrived at the evacuation center, she was bit by a Pit Bull that was trying to attack her German Shepherd. Matt, who had five homes in his family all evacuated there, with some fortunate enough to have a trailer while his father was sleeping in his truck. Matt’s truck on the drive down began having mechanical issues. This was one moment that was very touching to listen to because I know the basics of automobile mechanics, but I’m pretty sure Pastor Russell could build a truck engine blindfolded. So as Matt began to express his woes, Russell was right there knowing his struggle and there to offer suggestions. Each and every tent we visited, each story we heard, encouraged us more and more. I was always greeted and thanked for just stopping by and listening, but I had to thank them for talking about their experience with such humility and bravery.

As we broke away from Pastor Bill at his church in Oroville to head to Chico, I thanked God for calling he and his family there. In just the just the some 24 hours I had been there, his wife coordinated with different needs in the community, ran all over town trying to find gas cards and Walmart gift cards. Their son, Tyler, was constantly organizing the consistent flow of donations that were coming into the church. He was also updating the church and public on his and the church’s social media about what items were needed and this seemed to work as needs continued to be met. I could see that God had not only given Bill a heart for the city and her surrounding communities, but God gave his family that desire as well. Not to mention their hospitality toward myself, Russell and Kevin for putting us up that evening prior. As for what the future holds for the church there, only God knows. It is fitting however, that in a community ridden by devastation, the name of their congregation is, New Hope.

We dropped off additional donations at the Missionary Baptist Church in Chico. As we were there unloading, a young couple and their three children drove in and in the back lot of the church’s property, they were situating a single wide trailer they had been given by a friend of theirs. This dear family, like so many others, lost everything. All in amazing spirits, their middle son had an obsession for the Star Wars Universe and was visited that morning by Storm Troopers, something he had just dressed up as for Halloween. That act of kindness engraved a smile on this boy’s face that was contagious. It was encouraging to stop by there and see this church do what they can to help with Sunday School classrooms filled with needs and families in the church doing what they can to help. Pastor Ray Velasquez, who told us he has only been at Chico for about month or so, seemed determined to do what he could and was a major help in informing us where the evacuees were staying across town.

We stopped by an elementary school gym filled with beds and spoke to several people from the Red Cross and listened to the stories they had. Most of the evacuees there were out at the FEMA HQ or resting and so, not to disturb them, we left and went to another location. We had heard of this old Toys R Us building that was housing people and so we went there to see what was happening. The sun had gone down, and I knew that Russell and Kevin needed to get home, but hearing these stories, helping these people, praying with them, all of it became a bit addicting. This was probably the most humbling location for me. Not because it was so heartbreaking; quite the opposite, really. This vacant retail store had been leased out by volunteers. Inside, a structured and organized store of donated goods scattered the floorspace and walls. Volunteers were roaming around inside assisting people in finding needs they had. We spoke to a few evacuees who, despite losing everything, were thankful for the human spirit on display here with one commenting, “it’s stuff like this that makes you proud to be an American.” Everything from clothes to toiletries to water to toys was organized and easy to find. It was guarded at the front door with a registration desk you signed into before entering. We met one of the volunteers who helped lease the building. He lived all the way from Catalina Island in Southern California and gave us permission to walk around. In the parking lot outside, were even more donations.

Further out in the parking lot at the street corner, were a group of about a half a dozen or more food trucks. Everything from tacos to BBQ filled the air with a most intriguing aroma. In the middle, were picnic tables. As we approached this food court, we realized there was a common sign on every truck: “Free Food.” And we’re not talking vegetable soup or ramen noodles. Each food truck, with their specialty dinners, offering whatever you liked at no cost. Kevin approached a truck to get their story and she insisted he order something. He informed he could buy his own that he was here doing what they were doing – loving the people.

It’s amazing how love can take on so many characteristics. Sometimes, love is putting clothes on someone’s back. Love is feeding someone you don’t know. Love is listening to someone, no matter the state of mind or walk of life. Love is putting your family’s needs, your neighbors needs, a stranger’s needs, before your own. Love. Never. Fails.

“If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:3-8‬a

My evening ended across the street from the Toys R Us at the old Sears building in the Chico Mall where FEMA had set up shop as a Disaster Recovery Center. Inside several agencies were there to assist evacuees with the next step. Everything from insurance to the DMV. I spoke with one woman, who after four hours of going through everything she needed inside, was grateful to have her ID and was hopeful her father was safe somewhere dropping off his DNA if the worst should be discovered.

I will return to the area and likely soon. This is not an overnight, one and one, write a touching blog, process. The purpose in writing this to you is to not just tell you my experience, but to share with you the ongoing need that is there. Christmas is around the corner. How many children will go without the beautiful memory of running into the living room flabbergasted by the amount of presents all for them under the tree this year? There is a next phase here that is crucial for practically everyone evacuated. Many expressed how ok they were, but what is to happen when they’re allowed back into Paradise and see their home and community left in ruin? Who then will be there for them? Who will listen? Who will provide a shoulder to cry on? If you or your family were not effected by this fire, praise God, but that does not make it, not my problem. The vast majority of people that Pastor Bill spoke with and will continue ministering to may never step foot inside the doors of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Oroville; that’s not the point. We have an amazing opportunity to cover these amazing people with the love of Christ, why wouldn’t  we donate our time, our belongings, our money to such a cause especially this time of year?

I constantly heard the label, “Camp Fire Victims,” thrown around. Yet so many I spoke with had so much courage, they refused to say they were victims of anything. They would tell you they’re survivors. I can’t tell you how many times we offered monetary assistance and were rejected by people living in their cars with only the clothes on their back because they felt someone needed it more than they did. I can’t even imagine the loss many are going to feel in the coming weeks and months. My prayer is that God give me the ability to continuously help anyway I can. Listed at the bottom of the blog are some immediate needs we were given from the Toys R Us Center. If you can help in donating any of these needs, please contact me at zakcrouch@outlook.com. I know collections are being taken up and down the state so if I can’t come pick them up, I will direct you over to someone who is traveling there. Monetary donations are still being accepted at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and can be mailed at 5640 Lincoln Blvd Oroville, CA 95966 with 100% of your donation going to the evacuees and their needs.

Much of California, like my title purchase shows, had been covered in smoke. Evidences of a fire lay near Highway 99 between Oroville and Chico as a once golden field and hillside lay in black ash as far as you can see. Where there is smoke, there is fire, but the fire I discovered contained no flames, but a spirit of a people determined to get back on their feet, and a fire within God’s people and people in the surrounding communities to help them get there. I pray that this blog, while exposing one of the greatest crises in California’s history, exposes the need to help as well as expresses to you the certainty that love never fails. Signing out for now. Talk to you again soon. Thanks for reading.

Donation Needs*

• Soap

• Detergent

• Towels

• Blankets

• Pillows

• Belts

• Cleaning supplies

• New Underwater

• New Socks

• Toilet paper

• Headache medication

• Tums

• Hand towels

• Silverware (not plastic)

*Please contact me at zakcrouch@outlook.com to schedule a pick up for any donations you have. If I’m not nearby, someone near you will be traveling there soon and we will make connections with them.