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In early October 2017, a series of wildfires started burning across the state of California, United States. They broke out throughout Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Mendocino, Butte, and Solano counties. The recent Northern California wildfires were the most destructive in the state’s history. Over 8,500 structures were destroyed in these fires, with approximately 6,530 being residential.
Our photographer Darya Orlova went to Healdsburg and Santa Rosa to see what is going on there now, one month later.
The newest retail store in Healdsburg was open right after the fires. But it is not your regular store. It is geared toward victims who suffered the most and everything in the store is free.
“The Free Store takes the abundance of our community and shares it with people in the darkest places right now,” said Ariel Kelley, board chair of Corazon Healdsburg and the driving force behind the endeavor. “By the grace of God, Healdsburg was spared the brunt of these fires. This is the least we can do to give back.”