Walmart parking lot transformed into a cold and cramped campsite for desperate wildfire evacuees 

Hundreds of wildfire evacuees in Northern California have set up a tent city in a Walmart parking lot, building a new community after their old ones have been destroyed.  

Some 50,000 people were forced to evacuate Butte County last week as the Camp Fire tore across thousands of acres, razing entire neighborhoods and reducing countless homes and businesses to piles of ash.

After shelters in the area reached capacity, many were forced to get creative. 

An informal camp ground has been set up in front of a Walmart in Chico, located just beyond the more than 125,000 acres left in Camp Fire’s wake. 

 

Hundreds of wildfire evacuees in Northern California set up tents outside a Walmart in Chico

Those staying in the makeshift campsite described the sense of community and camaraderie that's grown among the victims all facing the same grim reality after losing their homes

Those staying in the makeshift campsite described the sense of community and camaraderie that’s grown among the victims all facing the same grim reality after losing their homes

Tammy Mezera surveys the tent city filled with homeless Camp Fire victims on Tuesday

Tammy Mezera surveys the tent city filled with homeless Camp Fire victims on Tuesday

The small camp, which sits on a patch of wasteland next to the Chico branch of Walmart, currently contains approximately 45 tents and two RVs, although more are arriving each day.

Maggie Missere Crowder, 61, and her husband Michael, 64, moved in two days ago along with their pitbull dog Coco.

The couple were burned out of their home in Magalia and said they had initially hoped to stay at a shelter but found that all were full.

‘All the shelters were full or wouldn’t take animals so we couldn’t get into one,’ Maggie told DailyMail.com.

‘We spent five nights sleeping in our truck in a Burger King parking lot but we needed somewhere more permanent.

‘Then we met a pastor in Target and he bought us a tent. He sent some young people to help us get set up here and gave us these blankets and everything else we have in here.’

River Valley Community Outreach has been sharing live updates of conditions in the camp

River Valley Community Outreach has been sharing live updates of conditions in the camp

Baskets full of donated items are located around the site for evacuees in need of supplies

Baskets full of donated items are located around the site for evacuees in need of supplies

Like others camping nearby, the Crowders are being fed by an army of volunteers who have set up shop in the parking lot.

Along with donated clothes and blankets, those in need are being given hot meals courtesy of local food trucks as well as advice on how to get help from FEMA and help with finding missing loved ones.

Volunteers are being led by Rob Busick, 36, of Chico, California, who began by giving out free meals from his food truck business on Friday and is now overseeing a makeshift donation center.

‘I came here to serve food and it’s turned into this,’ he told DailyMail.com. ‘I was here from Friday providing food. I just wanted to give people some initial comfort and now it’s morphed into this.’

He added: ‘I’ve lived in Chico for 15 years and I’m proud of how people have come together. But I think any city would come together for a disaster like this.

‘The help is needed. I’m working 15 hours a day and there’s families and kids staying in tents. I’ve set up tents for elderly people – they can’t stay in tents.

Volunteers wear masks while setting up racks with donated clothes in the Walmart parking lot

Volunteers wear masks while setting up racks with donated clothes in the Walmart parking lot

‘It’s cold and someone is going to die. We need the city [officials] to come out here and make some decisions.’

Among the homeless being cared for by Busick and his team was Tommy Jones, 60, who was forced out of his home in Magalia by the Camp Fire.

He and close friend Julia Titlow, 59, are sharing a small tent with two of her grandchildren. They said they were forced to get out so fast, they left with virtually nothing.

‘I’ve got two overnight bags,’ said Jones. ‘We’ve been here since Saturday. It’s been very cold so we keep joking around to try and keep our spirits up.

‘We try to help people and people try to help us. These wonderful volunteers are making things better for us.

Eric Bass, left, and Troy Bledsoe, chat at their makeshift shelter in the tent city on Wednesday

Eric Bass, left, and Troy Bledsoe, chat at their makeshift shelter in the tent city on Wednesday

‘It’s hard enough as it is but their kindness really helps.’

Student Isaac Castellon, 25, who was burned out of his Magalia home along with his mother Dora, 61, said his family were living in an RV.

‘It’s crowded but I can’t complain because it could be a lot worse,’ he said. ‘We’re not sure if we’ve lost our house – I’ve seen videos but it looks like the fire was hit and miss.

‘It’s hard but it’s also been amazing the way how people have been.’

Pointing to the volunteers, he added: ‘All this you see, I’m not used to it. It’s really nice how people have come together.

‘You can just walk in and get food and they don’t even ask you for ID. It doesn’t matter who you are – they want to help.’ 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk