August 8, 2018
Pastor Mike

Dear all,

Just a note to thank you for all your prayers and concerns for us and the church here in Redding. This is my 43rd year here in Redding as the Pastor of the church and I have never seen anything like this.

It’s still very smoky in Redding, in fact, we have had to live with smoke ever since we got back from Bible Camp on June 23, but now it’s even worse. Even though they have contained over 40 % of the fire, and have pretty much got Redding protected from it; it has burned over 200 square miles, destroyed over 1,000 homes, plus hundreds of out buildings; it’s still burning and it’s heading NW to Lewiston and north on the west side of Lake Shasta. I think there are over 4,500 firefighters actively fighting the fire from all over the world, even Canada, New Zealand and Australia. There are countless numbers of trailers and tents all over the place by those giving aid and assistance, insurance adjusters, etc.; it’s like a war zone in some ways.

The problem is there are no places to live for those who lost their homes! I think that before the fire there were about 500 homes to rent or sell, plus the apartments, but they’re pretty much gone now. Redding had a very thin market for housing before the fire, but now it’s evaporating. Many in town are saying, “We will rebuild”, (they sound like the ancient Israelites who said the same thing), but no one is looking at the practical side of the matter. First PGE has to come in and check the power lines, including the main transmission lines and poles from the Dam, then replace what is necessary. Next all the water, gas and electric lines have to be “snubbed” off at the street. Then all the debris, including the underground pipes, the slabs and foundations have to be removed and dumped some where, then, and now they’re being told that a minimum of 6” of dirt has to be removed, and then the soil has to be checked for chemicals by the EPA, then new fill dirt has to be brought in and compacted, then new plans for houses have to be drawn up, then they have to be approved, then you have to find a contractor to do it, then new financing has to be in place because none of the houses had enough insurance on them to rebuild at today’s prices, plus the new codes that cost more money have been passed concerning house building, etc., etc... Even if someone had a job or career, where are they going to live while all this is going on? The fire is but one part of this; it’s the aftermath that is going to have disastrous impacts down the road.

Anyway, thank you all again for you prayers. In Christ, Mike Phillips.