This weekend, the town of Paradise, Calif., was issued an evacuation warning — not yet an order, but still a bad sign for the community, which was ravaged by a 2018 wildfire that killed 85 people and burned through 153,000 acres. Paradise was nearly wiped off the map by that wildfire, the deadliest in California’s history. Those who returned to the town with the intention to rebuild are now being threatened with a repeat of history.
Authorities believe the current blaze, the Park Fire, was started by Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42. Stout allegedly lit a 2007 Toyota Yaris on fire, pushed it into a gully, and walked away. Lives and homes are now at stake in Northern California. The fire has spread to encompass 368,000 acres and is only 12 percent contained. One way to help is to donate to the California Fire Foundation.
St. Florian, patron saint of firefighters, protect all from harm.
PHOTOS: California Wildfires