2022| Oak Fire Recovery

This page has recovery information for residents and businesses impacted by the Oak Fire. For links to track the fire itself, go to the main fire page at http://jennasworkshop.com/2022-oak-fire/

Last updated on 10/10/2022 at 11:45am PDT
– Always refresh this page for the most current version –

CURRENT RESOURCES

Monitor the Mariposa County Recovers Website

This is the best and current source to track recovery progress and resources available to those affected by the Oak Fire (check it often for updates): http://www.mariposacounty.org/recovers

Contact Mariposa’s Emergency Operations Center

Call (209) 966-2000 for assistance with food, rental assistance and to answer questions. Counseling services are also available if you need someone to talk to. Check for new and updated Mariposa Co. resources on the Mariposa Co HHS Facebook page.

Learn About Debris Removal Support & Progress

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control is tracking their progress in assessment of affected properties in this dashboard (click on the Oak Fire button in the upper right). The dashboard displays the number of parcels affected, the number of parcels assessed for household hazardous waste and bulk asbestos to date, and the number of parcels assessed each day.

An important note for those whose homes have been lost or damaged: DO NOT attempt to clean up burned debris on your own. Mariposa Co HHS and Cal OES will assist with debris removal. More info here: http://www.mariposacounty.org/2644/Returning-After-the-Fire. CalOES will assist with case managers to advise on next steps, to avoid creating any situations that allow an insurance company to walk away from their obligation to fund your recovery efforts.

Find Community Support

There are a multitude of offers of support from the mountain communities for those displaced by the Oak Fire. Here are a few Facebook groups that I’m aware of that are coordinating support, but there are surely many more out there (search “Oak Fire assistance” on your favorite social media platform for more results):

Take Care of Your Mental Health

It is important to remember that anxiety, sadness, and trouble sleeping are common responses to traumatic events. The effect of a disaster or traumatic event goes far beyond its immediate devastation. It takes time for survivors to grieve and rebuild individual and family lives. Please know that you are not alone and support is available.

SAMHSA’s Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Traumatic Event

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline
Toll-Free: 1-800-985-5990 (English and Spanish)
SMS English: Text TalkWithUs to 66746
SMS Spanish: Text Hablanos al 66746
TTY: 1-800-846-8517
SAMHSA Website: English Version | Spanish Version

Replace Important Documents

If you lost items such as Drivers License/ID cards, Vehicle Registration, Birth/Death/Marriage Certificates, etc. due to the Oak Fire, you can request replacements from the proper agencies at no cost (read the full CA disaster declaration for details).

Mariposa County has a page with info on replacing your documents: http://www.mariposacounty.org/2649/Vital-Documents-Recovery

For information on replacing important documents lost in the fire, go to CalOES’s page on Replacing Personal Documents after a Natural Disaster.

Get Help From Elected Officials

Assemblyman Frank Bigelow
https://ad05.asmrc.org
(916) 319-2005
Assemblyman Jim Patterson
https://ad23.asmrc.org
(559) 446-2029

Bigelow and Patterson are offering their support if state agencies are taking too long with their assistance. You can call their offices and have staff follow up with agencies on your behalf. Patterson also has an Oak Fire info page: https://ad23.asmrc.org/wildfire-recovery-resources-oak-fire-victims

Contact Your Insurance Company

If you have suffered losses from the Oak Fire and are insured, you should first contact your insurance company and file a claim for disaster-related damages. Once you are able to access your property, take photographs or video of the damage and keep any receipts related to home repair. Per CalOES, insurance delivers the majority of financial help in disasters.

Contact the County Assessor’s Office

If your home was substantially damaged or destroyed, you should file a disaster relief claim with the county assessor within 12 months. More information on how this can help you is available on the CA Board of Equalization website (make sure to click through all four tabs under Disaster Relief to see all the information).

Read this Sierra News Online article about resources for Evacuees

Check Out These Additional Resources

POSSIBLE FUTURE RESOURCES

UPDATE: As of October 2022, these resources have not been made available for the Oak Fire.

CalOES Wildfire Recovery Resources

https://wildfirerecovery.caloes.ca.gov/current-incidents/
The site currently contains only 2021 fire information, but as a state of emergency has been declared for Mariposa County due to the Oak Fire, more resources may be added to that page in the future.

FEMA Resources

https://www.disasterassistance.gov
If the Oak Fire receives a federal disaster declaration, FEMA will offer resources including financial assistance. I will provide more details here if/when that happens.