The Carr Fire in Shasta County, California, started on Monday, July 23. As of Friday morning, The New York Times reported that the fire has since burned more than 44,000 acres of land, reached only 3 percent containment, and killed two people. Fire officials have evacuated thousands of homes and reported that at least 65 homes have been destroyed.
Ray Van Gilst, C&MA Central Pacific District superintendent, writes:
“While getting information has been sketchy due to the volatile and early nature of the situation, we know that it is dire. We know many of our pastors and church families have been evacuated. We know some of our families’ homes have been lost, but as of yet we have no details. Thank you for your prayers for our brothers and sisters there.”
Simpson University has been doing its part to help evacuees and firefighters during this destructive season by converting the Grant Center into an evacuee center. In addition, on Friday morning the school’s Twitter read: “Special thanks to @CHPRedding (California Highway Patrol) and emergency personnel for assisting in evacuation and firefighting efforts on campus. We are able to house CHP officers in our dorms as they get some much needed rest from the Carr Fire.”
As the fire continues to burn, join us in prayer for this community and for our Alliance family as they do their best to help their neighbors.