California Wildfires Force Thousands To Start From Scratch

The devastating wildfires that ripped through Northern California are now largely contained — but that’s little solace for the thousands of people who’ve lost everything they own. 

Kim Dougherty of Calaveras County described what remained of her Mokelumne Hill home last week as “just ash and rubble.” She said the brick fireplace was still standing, “but as far as the structure goes, there was nothing left, not one wall.”

Dougherty’s home, which she shared with her husband Jim, is one of more than 470 houses95 percent containeddestroyed at least 1,280 homes97 percent contained

The day the Butte Fire took hold, Dougherty was home with her husband watching it burn on the other side of the Calaveras River Canyon. Suddenly, the flames jumped across the canyon and began burning in her neighbor’s yard.

“I was watching it and just couldn’t believe my eyes,” she said. “It happened less than 100 yards, maybe 50 yards, from where we were standing.”