Dixie Fire forces evacuees into parking lots


Evacuated Chester resident April Phillips hugs their family dog at an evacuation center for the Dixie fire in Susanville, California on August 6, 2021. - Philips and her family have been living in their vehicles and were told that it will be at least 10 days before they can return home. A huge wildfire tearing through northern California became the third largest in the state's history Friday, and looked set to continue growing. The Dixie Fire, which this week razed the Gold Rush town of Greenville, has torched more than 1,700 square kilometers (650 square miles) since it erupted in mid-July. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Evacuated Chester resident April Phillips hugs their family dog at an evacuation center for the Dixie fire in Susanville, California on August 6, 2021. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 2:37 PM PT – Wednesday, August 11, 2021

California’s Dixie Fire has continued to rage on, damaging homes and leaving shelters full. The blaze recently approached the small California town of Susanville, forcing many to pack up what they could carry with nowhere to go.

“You could not see where you were going five feet in front of you,” said Charlene Mays, an evacuee. “There wasn’t an actual fire right there in town, but it was all around the town.”

On Tuesday, thousands were forced into shelters, but for many others, they had to make home in a parking lot due to the overflow. Mays said she left her husband with firefighters to help maintain water tanks being used to help extinguish the fire.

The devastation continues as the blaze has been active for nearly a month and is already larger than the city of Houston, Texas. It has now been named one of the largest fires in state history.

Many are scared of the unknown and have been left clueless as to when and if they’ll return to their homes. In the meantime, those who fled to parking lots to stay safe said they are surrounded by animals and good company. The evacuees have been trying to remain in good spirits knowing everything is at stake and many say they are just thankful to be alive.

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