Mayor Steinberg Recognizes Camp Fire Volunteers

“Caring about your community” shouldn’t be just a written or spoken mantra used to describe an elusive virtue you claim to possess. It is through our intentional actions, even when no one is looking and no one knows, that the true colors of our hearts are exposed. And it is through selflessness and compassion toward others that a real heart of service beats strong.

I recently sat down with one such person to talk with her about her experience caring for the Camp Fire area. Last month, Lisa Walda spent seven days up in Butte County to care for this community that had lost virtually everything. For many, this included the furrier members of their family: their pets.

On December 12^th Lisa and her fellow volunteers from the Sacramento Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) were recognized by Mayor Steinberg and the City Council for their work at the Camp Fire up in Butte County. This ceremony came about due to the extraordinary work of the volunteers who rushed to the aid of this community in need.

On November 11^th, Lisa Walda was deployed to Butte County for seven days to help run an evacuation animal shelter and transportation effort. Stationed at the Chico Airport, she and her teammate personally set up and ran the intake station where they assisted over 2,000 people and processed hundreds of unidentified rescued animals. “The people came flooding in,” Lisa explained, “their arms were full of pets.”

Lisa’s hours were long; often exceeding 14 hours a day, and sometimes in excess of 16. It was not only physically and emotionally exhausting, but mentally draining. “There are images I know I will never forget. They will remain with me the rest of my life,” Lisa shared. But Lisa also witness one extraordinary thing of beauty that will likewise remain in her heart: She saw firsthand what lays at the core of humanity; Goodness and compassion prevailed despite the fact that many people there had never been tested in such a way. They found that they had what it takes to step up and do the right thing. Lisa witnessed strangers helping strangers. Neighbors helping neighbors. Anonymous donors pulling up in their fire-damaged cars bursting to the brim with donated goods and supplies, quietly unloading their cargo and driving away, never giving their name or sharing their own story of survival. “They restored my faith in humanity. It was remarkable,” Lisa said, shaking her head with lingering amazement.

“I am forever changed by what I saw.” Not only has the devastation she experienced around her or the heartbreak and desperation of those who had lost everything changed her, but the overwhelming outpouring of kindness and goodness she witnessed. She got to peer into the very essence of the human spirit and it seemed to hold the power to transform the soot that covered every inch of their surroundings and the darkened sky floating with sorrowful grey ash, into the glimmering rays hope. The darkness could not defeat the spirit of this community.

Lisa and her teammates didn’t only run the intake station, but they also transported rescued animals from the burn area to veterinary hospitals for treatment of burns, wounds, exhaustion, nutrient deficiency and dehydration. Some were critically wounded which was very difficult for her to see. They relocated rescued animals to secure locations if they were unable to house them at the Chico Airport shelter. The animal shelter Lisa was at accepted the smaller animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, ducks, lizards, birds, etc. The larger animals were sent to a secondary shelter a little ways away. They also helped pet owners find and reclaim their lost pets, and offered a shelter to the pets of owners who themselves were struggling to find a place to stay that accepted animals. Many of the human shelters in the area could not accept their animals due to health and safety concerns.

But it wasn’t just the local survivors who were in need of sleeping accommodations. Lisa and her fellow volunteers were provided cots and tents to rest their weary heads on at night. If any of them had a local acquaintance willing to put them up (assuming they still had a home standing), they were the lucky ones.

Though the seven days Lisa worked at the emergency animal shelter was non-stop, demanding and draining, she has no regrets other than wishing she could have done more for those who were unable to locate their lost pets. Every bit of the heartache she shared with them was worth it just to be there and provide some small service to their community. She loved being a part of the reunions between pets and their owners. It often made holding back her tears impossible.

“It is very sobering to know that this town [Paradise] of 27,000 people, is all gone. Wiped out. The residents lost…everything,” Lisa says, the sympathy in her voice tangible.

Just imagine waking up in the morning with no premonition that your day is going to be any different than any other day. You drop your kids off at school and head into work. After a few hours you suddenly get an emergency evacuation alter on your phone. You grab your car keys and rush out of the office with one thing in mind, my kids. You fight through congested traffic full of frightened drivers, finally make it to the school and retrieve your kids. They are safe. Thank God. You are grateful and relieved. You want to head home to gather some belongings for the unpredictable days ahead but the roads are closed and you’re being diverted, forced to leave town. Forced to leave the other members of your family behind; your pets. Your kids cry. You try not to cry. What about your dog? The kid’s hamster? The neighbor’s cat that your kids are always sneaking treats to? How will they survive? Who will go save them? Now imagine finally being allowed to return to your home, or rather, the ashes and bricks that remain of it. Your pets are nowhere to be found. They don’t come when you call. You and your kids are devastated once again with more loss. When you hear about the animal shelter, you feel a prickle of hope. Maybe, by some miracle, your pets are there. You have to go. You have to know.

This was the all too common experience shared by those people Lisa Walda looked in the eyes and tried to help every day. She saw their pain and heartbreak as well as the hope in their eyes as they looked for their pets, walking the seemingly endless rows of caged dogs, cats, and all manner of other small animals, trying to find their lost love ones. The hugs and words of comfort she offered to these people were also endless. There was no shortage of human compassion and kindness expressed.

I asked Lisa if she had anything else she would like to share with my readers. She simply said this, “Every small act can make a large difference in the lives of those in need. I really hope by sharing my story, I can inspire someone to volunteer.”

Though the fires have tapered off, the need for assistance and volunteers has not. As a reminder, if you are a California State Employee, CalHR recently released an announcement of a policy regarding a new program named the “Volunteer Relief Leave Program”.  The policy provides information for employees who want to volunteer for fire relief work, and the potential for granting Administrative Time Off (ATO) in order for them to do so.

Many private sector employers have similar policies in place to encourage their employees to participate in volunteer relief work. I would encourage anyone out there reading this to ask their Human Resource Department about the possibility of paid time off to volunteer for this relief effort.

Here are some photos provided by Lisa Walda that she took during her time in the Camp Fire area:

Sacramento first responders, including CERT, were recognized on December 11^th by Mayor Steinberg and the City Council for their work at the Camp Fire.

Sky over Chico when Lisa arrived on Sunday, November 11^th, 2018.

One of three buildings being used to shelter evacuee pets and strays from the fire. Lisa was stationed on the Chico Airport grounds:

Lisa (left) and her teammate at the intake station they set up.

They were allowed access the burn area in Paradise to set up an animal ambulance staging area.

Transport team had two vehicles running critically injured pets down the hill to a veterinary hospital, and one "ark” that they filled with healthy animals to transport back to the shelter. Lisa’s vehicle alone made seven runs in one day, transporting ten animals. Their ability to "ambulance" the animals allowed the rescuers to stay up the hill and move on to the next rescue more quickly.

The below video was recorded by one of Lisa's team mates, Grace Harris, and is also available on her YouTube channel. Thank you Grace of allowing me to share this powerful reminder. 

A very special thank you to Lisa Walda for taking time out of her busy schedule to sit and talk with me about her experience. As a State employee who works in a Department that often goes over and above to encourage a culture of "caring for it's community" inside and outside of it's walls, Lisa is no stranger to putting her hands, time and resources where her mouth is. 

Are you?