REDDING, Calif.—The wildfires in Northern California that have killed eight people are forcing many members and CU staff to leave their homes.
The Carr Fire, which is surrounding the city of Redding, has affected 17 employees of Members 1st CU here, forcing many to evacuate, the California and Nevada Leagues reported.
The league said that as of Thursday all but five of the staff had returned home. The league did not say if any employees’ homes were damaged.
Eighteen employees from Sierra Central CU, Yuba City, which has three branches in the path of the fire, have been evacuated, the league said, adding that as of Thursday all three of these offices were operational.
Earlier this week Sierra Central CU CEO John Cassidy, along with a convoy of residents and businesses from Yuba-Sutter, went to Redding to deliver donated clothing and supplies as well as food to serve evacuees. The food, including 900 pizzas, came from local businesses, while the credit union provided a $15,000 donation, the league said.
The Mendocino Complex Fire has closed the Community First CU Lakeport retail branch and call center, the league said.
Working With Retailers
The Klamathon Fire in Siskiyou County hit in early July, and Siskiyou Central CU in Yreka has been working with local JC Penney and Walmart stores, which agreed to provide additional discounts to those impacted by the fire if they presented the credit union’s business cards at checkout. The CU is accepting cash donations that will them be disbursed as gift cards to help fire victims.