I just learned yesterday from my brother that my niece used to work at the hospital in Paradise up until it burned down. Now she's looking for a new job. She lives in Chico, though, so she still has her home. She went into a friend/colleague's house to save their dog - the house was already burning.


Also, the Gores, friends of ours and parents of former students of mine, got trapped as they were driving out. They abandoned their car and hiked down into a river canyon and followed the canyon out of the fire zone.


My wife's aunt and uncle have lost their home. Another extended family member, I'm not sure of the relation, lost her house, too.

...but as far as I know, all our connections up there are still alive, so that's good.