California Fires Force CU Employees to Evacuate
Credit unions donate resources to help members, residents with relief efforts.
The Carr fire, the largest of the 17 wildfires burning throughout the state, started on July 23, claiming the lives of six people, scorching more than 115,000 acres and destroying more than 1,000 homes, 12 commercial buildings and more than 400 other structures, California fire authorities reported Wednesday. The wildfires have displaced tens of thousands residents.
Headquartered in Redding is the $199 million Members 1st Credit Union. Of the credit union’s 54 employees, 17 staff members have been affected by evacuations and in other ways, Shawna Bell, the credit union’s HR manager, reported to the California league.
The credit union’s four branches are open and fully staffed. What’s more, Member 1st CU’s branches are serving as water-collection sites for firefighters and evacuation centers.
The $973 million Sierra Central Credit Union based in Yuba City, which operates three branches in the Redding area, had 18 employees affected by the wildfires, Sierra Central CU President/CEO John Cassidy told the California league.
Sierra Center CU has donated $10,000 to Shasta Community Colleges, which is doubling as an evacuation center.
The $11.9 billion Golden 1 Credit Union in Sacramento, which operates a branch in Redding, said several of its employees had to evacuate their homes, but they are safe, Golden 1’s PR Manager Karen Doron reported to the league.
The credit union, which serves more than 16,000 members in Shasta County, has enacted relief efforts to assist members affected by the Carr Fire, and it has donated $5,000 each to the Shasta Community Regional Foundation and the Gold Country Region of the American Red Cross to assist with relief efforts, according to the California league.
California fire officials reported Wednesday that the Carr fire is about 35% contained and continues to threaten more than 2,500 structures.