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The deadly Camp Fire in northern California was contained early this week, ending the worst recorded wildfire in the state’s history. The Woolsey Fire, which simultaneously burned nearly 100,000 acres outside Los Angeles, was contained by Thanksgiving.
The devastation is hard to imagine. Strangely enough, it was a video from motorcycling YouTube legend RNickeyMouse that gave me a real sense of the Woolsey fire’s reach. Like many of you, I’ve seen that section of the Snake countless times in motorcycle videos. RNickeyMouse’s latest upload shows scorched earth in almost every direction, and not a motorcycle in sight on one of the country’s most iconic riding destinations. The silence, especially on that particular stretch of road, is just eerie.
Together, the two blazes covered around 250,000 acres and claimed the lives of at least 88. Over 20,000 structures burned in total, many of them homes, and dozens of people are still missing. I can’t imagine the loss Californians are feeling right now.
The damage might have been far worse without locals stepping up to help those in need. Last week, Common Tread featured Shelina Moreda, a motorcycle racer who organized the evacuation of animals during the fires. News this week confirms that the legendary Rock Store not only survived the burn, but quickly opened their doors to provide supplies, food, and shelter. Later, the store was used as a base of operations for the American Red Cross.
“It just came so fast and furious,” said Rock Store owner Rich Savko. “We stayed and fought it the best we could.”
The plant life will grow back and the roads will see riders again. But the painful loss of life and property will weigh heavily on residents, their friends, and their families.
Riders in the area should be mindful of potential mudslides, as well as slippery road conditions due to a fine layer of ash. If you’d like to help those affected by the fires, consider this guide from PBS.
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