Welcome To Walmart, Now A Shelter For California Fire Evacuees

One of the many makeshift shelters housing people who survived the devastating wildfire in northern California is not a shelter at all, but rather a Walmart parking lot with a hundred-odd tents.

Chico, United States, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2018 ) :One of the many makeshift shelters housing people who survived the devastating wildfire in northern California is not a shelter at all, but rather a Walmart parking lot with a hundred-odd tents.

One of the residents is Dustin Kimball, 44, who lost everything in the fire and now lives in a tent with four relatives as he tries to figure out what to do next.

Kimball lived not far from the town of Paradise, which was devoured by the flames of the deadliest fire in California history. The death toll now stands at 56, with many people still missing. Three more died in a fire in southern California.

After evacuating his home, Kimball went to the state capital Sacramento, which is about two hours from the disaster area, but came back a few days ago to Chico, which is near Paradise, to try to get his life organized.

"A week ago as I was working at the Paradise cemetery I had a good job and everything was good," said Kimball. "My life was starting to get better.

And then the fire hit and it just all went downhill from there." "So I'm just trying to get in a place where I'm stable enough so I can go back to work," he added.

The company that runs the cemetery told him his job is safe, but authorities have not said when they will start letting people return home, assuming they still have one.

Kimball lived in Magalia, less than 10 kilometers (six miles) from Paradise and also hit by the fire. He lost everything.

He says he focuses on getting by day to day, as do many who are still trying to digest the tragedy.

One priority, for instance, is getting through the chilly autumn nights in Chico. The first one was awful: even bundling up under blankets and sleeping in heavy coats and socks was not enough. Kimball's aunt, Karen Fruge, ended up sleeping in a car with her husband and the heat turned on.

Now, Kimball is happy because he has got hold of a small portable heater. It is a small victory amid so much loss.