Oroville, Calif. November 17, 2018 – Butte County and the City of Chico are working collaboratively with state agencies, the American Red Cross, and volunteers to assist with transitioning Camp Fire evacuees currently located at the Walmart parking lot in Chico to the Butte County Fairgrounds in Gridley (199 E. Hazel Street) where services are provided.
Six American Red Cross shelters were established for fire evacuees, but some residents displaced by the Camp Fire originally evacuated to the Walmart parking lot in Chico, and the parking lot then became an unofficial donation distribution site. Community members in Chico expressed concerns about the health and welfare of the people staying in the parking lot.
A shelter is open at the Butte County Fairgrounds in Gridley (199 E. Hazel Street) and supported by the American Red Cross. Teams of Butte County social workers will help people transition to Butte County Fairgrounds. The County will provide transportation to the new location starting today, November 17, 2018. Small animal sheltering will be available to evacuees at the Butte County Fairgrounds beginning Sunday, November 18, 2018.
People staying in the parking lot are not being forced to leave, however, rain is currently in the weather forecast for the area in the next several days, and Butte County and the City of Chico want to ensure that all evacuees displaced by the Camp Fire have a safe, dry, and clean place to stay.
For current shelter and other Camp Fire resource information, visit the Butte County website at www.buttecounty.net.