"I knew it was time to get out": Fawn Fire evacuees wait to return home

SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. — Evacuees were waiting for word of when they could go back into their homes at the road closure at Oasis Road and Old Oregon Trail. So far, there is no timeline for when people can return home as the Fawn Fire continuously changes.

Jenny Lambert is one of the about 4,000 people evacuated from their homes. She said she also had to evacuate from the Carr Fire and this brought back memories of that time. However, she thought the evacuation process on this fire went much smoother and safer.

“It’s scary,” Lambert said. “It’s very unsettling especially when I was out here yesterday and watching the smoke and the fire getting closer and closure. I knew it was time to get out and we had plenty of time to do that. It was good.”

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Crews did catch a break with the fire and the winds overnight. Public Information Officer Scott Ross said the majority of their battle on Friday was off of Bear Mountain Lookout, but they are pleased with the work done on Friday because it looks like a completely different fire.

“It’s looking night and day from [Thursday],” Ross said. “Everyone from the ground to the air has done such an amazing job. From this time yesterday to today, night and day. It was really good progress yesterday so today’s goal is to keep that progress and hold onto it.”

While Lambert said it has been an awful experience, she was blown away by the kindness of her community who stopped to help her even in the heat of the evacuation.

“Oh my God, it’s so amazing how people come together,” Lambert said. “When I was waiting for my horse trailer, people were evacuating, almost every car stopped to see if I needed anything. I mean people really come together in these tragic episodes. Kind of touched my heart too.”

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