Page 49 - Southern Oregon Magazine Winter 2021

of the devastation of our town and our neighborhood. The pictures
were hauntingly painful as the fires had brought a caustic path of
destruction leaving miles of ash and debris in its wake, and the death
of a community. Social media flashed videos of our neighborhood now
an obliterated mass of ashes and metal. The unsinged trash can on the
curb and a contorted metal bench were the only discernable placards
indicating where we once lived.

Jackson County Expo swiftly became the primary command center
and provided immediate basics for the fire victims—food, shelter, and
clothing. Jackson County Animal Control offered free shelter, food,
and pet supplies and many additional auxiliary services. The American
Red Cross and Mental Health Professionals provided services as well.
Free food was provided for anyone needing it, and volunteers ensured
that victims were taken care of.

There were so many selfless and caring acts by individuals. Watching
the flood of support in the endless donations being made from the
community was at times overwhelming. On one occasion, I watched
the touching exchange between a donor of a guitar and a despondent
young teen. In that hallmark moment, the exchange represented the
essence of empathy and caring by perfect strangers to those in need.

Many donation centers began to sprout up, including one established
by a young high school student wanting to help in the fire relief. His
desire to help turned a small donation center that started in the Home
Depot parking lot into a large, ongoing donation center. The Padilla
Family closed their El Tapitia Restaurant for a month to provide
resources to the community, while the owners of Red Poppy Boutique
opened their store for a day to offer new high-end clothing to the fire
victims free of charge. Organizations such as I CARE offered sup-
port to victims, formed by individuals who had been victims of the
Paradise fire. Harry and David quickly set up donation sites and events
for the victims of the community, and Habitat for Humanity offered
furniture and bedding for victims. Gates furniture offered free bed-
ding to victims. Assistance was made available in so many other ways.

Services from FEMA, American Red Cross, and United Way were
set up at many locations to help provide applications, resources, and
supports. Samaritan’s Purse is a worldwide organization that provides
relief to those in need from natural disasters. They provided trained
volunteers from all over the country to help victims sift through the
ashes of their homes.

The Almeda Fire will resonate with the community for years to come
and will be a part of the history of Southern Oregon. The profound
consequence of the disaster will forever change the lives of the sur-
vivors and the towns of Talent and Phoenix. Like the strength of the
mythical Phoenix, we will rebuild and rise from the ashes while we
continue to live on with the same spirit we always had. The fire that
was intent on destroying our community instead brought a renewed
humanity rich with the sincerest forms of compassion, love, and
grace, while exemplifying the power of the human spirit in caring for
each other.

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