Camp Fire Shelter Relief Brought By San Mateo Fair Workers

REDWOOD CITY, CA -- Adding to the Peninsula's major role in Camp Fire relief, a San Mateo County Fair team joined the network of California Fairs to support and assist efforts at the Butte County Fairground in Gridley.

The fairgrounds located about an hour from the horrific scene of California's deadliest and most destructive wildfire in history has been used to house all types of animals including donkeys, horses, pigs, roosters and an onslaught of chickens. Row after row were caged under a massive tent complex. A shelter for people was also established in another building, with a tent city set up next to the building.

After the unprecedented fire that killed 86 people, destroyed almost 20,000 structures, leveled Paradise and demolished Magalia, thousands of people were scrambled for safety. Some frantic residents couldn't rescue or find their pets. Animals, domestic and wild, were discovered roaming the streets or hanging out at their demolished homes. Rescue officials and firefighters picked up critters along the way. The stories are awe-inspiring, while others are devastating.

Early on, the sprawling fairgrounds that dominates the rural landscape of the North State took in 700 animals and 300 people, as the American Red Cross working in conjunction with Butte County officials tapped into and rotated evacuees to strategic locations.

The maintenance staff from the San Mateo County Event Center and Fair spent over a week at the fairgrounds.

“Most people envision a fairground as a place for Ferris wheels and family fun, and it is certainly that,” said Dana Stoehr, chief executive officer of the San Mateo County Event Center and Fair. “However, while producing the annual fair is a primary function of the state’s fairgrounds, California fairgrounds also function as emergency evacuation centers during local and state emergencies and disasters.”

“We were given an opportunity to volunteer our services, and we did,” fair technician Tyler McClure said. “It was a tragic situation, and it motivated us to want to help."

McClure’s sentiments were echoed by fellow worker Juan Naranjo: “I volunteered to go so that I could have a chance to help people and give relief to others who are going through so much.”

For the three San Mateo maintenance technicians, operating as an emergency operations center was an eye opener. They witnessed hundreds of displaced people living in tents on cold rainy days and nights.

“I was sad to see all those people who had lost everything. Many were just wandering around,” another volunteer Carlos Real said.

Other fair teams assisting with relief efforts include Kern and Orange counties. Those teams provided staff support after the San Mateo team returned home. Spectra Food Services & Hospitality also donated funds to support those displaced at Butte.

The San Mateo County Fair serves as an emergency resource to the community, under the Office of Emergency Services.

Visit sanmateocountyfair.com for more information.

--Images via Sue Wood, Patch