Published Aug 05, 2021
By Anthony Beaird
The three-week-old Dixie Fire engulfed the town of Greenville along with Greenville Southern Baptist Church’s fellowship hall and youth building on Aug. 5.
The church had a small apartment in which a father and three daughters were living. All four were evacuated safely, but now face the loss of their home.
The Plumas County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning Wednesday evening online to the town’s approximately 800 residents: “You are in imminent danger, and you must leave now!”
Terry Jones, the church’s pastor for about a year, was evacuated a few days ago. He said, “Part of our church burned, the sanctuary is still standing. Some of our church members have lost homes.”
Mike Bivins, director of California Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, said “we are not responding at this point as it’s still a hot spot. We can’t really do anything until the fires are out.”
However, Disaster Relief is partnering with the Red Cross to distribute gift cards for food, gas and other essentials.
Bivins said, “We were set up to head to Plumas County to help with the 60 homes that burned, but are waiting to hear from the county.” He continued, “Currently we are on standby for feeding the evacuees of the Beckwourth Complex Fire at the Red Cross shelter in Susanville.”
Director of missions for Feather River Association, J Ballard, said, “Highway 89, which runs through Greenville, is currently closed” and are setting up a Send Relief trailer to assist with the devastation.
Plumas County Supervisor Kevin Goss wrote Thursday on Facebook that the fire “burnt down our entire downtown. Our historical buildings, families homes, small businesses and our children’s schools are completely lost.”
Pastor Terry said, “God’s in control, we may not understand why, but He has a plan.”