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County Supervisor: Butte Fire Victims Need Money To Help Rebuilding Efforts

CALAVERAS COUNTY (CBS13) — Calaveras County communities that burned in the Butte Fire are home to many people who can't afford to rebuild.

Fire victims who lost everything are back to less than than the basics. Now the costly rebuild after the wildfire is around-the-clock work, and Calaveras County Supervisor Cliff Edson is at the center of it all.

"We need not forget the fire is out, but the catastrophe is not out," he said.

Now he's putting the greatest need for Butte Fire victims bluntly—money.

Donations for fire victims fill the Calaveras County warehouse with plenty of stuff, but Edson says the time has come for more permanent help.

Edson says many of the 580 fire victims whose homes were destroyed have no way to rebuild. Since the county can't hand out public funds to individuals, he's asking those who want to give to do it in dollars.

He estimates as much as $10 million in donations is needed.

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