Guy Fieri Serves Up Delicious Barbecue Free of Charge to California Wildfire Evacuees
You may not think that being presented with something that’s been roasted for hours would encourage the victims of Northern California’s devastating Carr Fire, but celebrity chef Guy Fieri thinks differently.
After all, fire has made the Food Network celebrity into a star. Viewers of his hit show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” know just how much he enjoys his flame-adorned button downs.
Now Fieri wants to share with refugees from one of California’s worst wildfires. And that help is coming to them in the form of deliciously charred barbecue.
The Carr Fire has engulfed the northern section of the Golden State. Though it has only burned for about a week, it has consumed almost 100,000 acres.
It has displaced almost 36,000 people from their homes in Shasta County. Worse, firefighters have only contained about 20 percent of the blaze — and it has already claimed lives.
Six people have perished due to the fire, and perhaps the most poignant loss came when a 70-year-old and her great-grandchildren got caught in the flames. The fire had swept over their house as they were calling family for help.
The scope of the devastation is why Fieri traveled to Redding, California. He has joined with the Salvation Army and José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen to feed the displaced.
Our @WCKitchen Relief Team is on the ground in Redding, California to serve the #CarrFire evacuee shelters & emergency crews! Coordinating with @Cal_OES @RedCross @SalvationArmyUS to deliver hot meals with our Food First Responder partners @GuyFieri @OpBBQRelief! More soon… pic.twitter.com/16j2eIw5uu
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) July 30, 2018
Joined by 20 volunteers, Operation Barbecue Relief (which is a Fieri-helmed nonprofit) swept in to provide truly gourmet grub for refugees. They set up shop in Redding’s Shasta College.
Using donated meat, they got to work filling the plates of 1,400 people. And they fed more than just those directly impacted by the fire.
Fieri and crew also served up grub for first responders. Despite the huge number of mouths to fill, the celebrity chef said he tried “to keep the menu interesting.”
Big thanks to the Cattlewomen of Humboldt for a great beef donation for the Redding evacuees! pic.twitter.com/Wb4kwsZqqL
— Guy Fieri (@GuyFieri) July 30, 2018
He told CNN that “we’re in tough times as a world with all of the things going on. And boy, you take a moment like this and you really see what America is made of.
“A lot of great people coming together. All those basics that we have on a regular basis all of a sudden are gone.”
Dealing with California fires isn’t a new experience for Fieri. He helped his hometown of Santa Rosa, California, when wildfires broke out in October of last year.
During that disaster, he served up pulled pork and roasted chicken to the hungry. And this time, he has good help in the person of José Andrés.
World Central Kitchen has aided the victims of various disasters all over the globe. It intervened to great effect after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Northern California, especially given how challenging it seems on the ground there.
“You can’t even see the sun,” Fieri said.
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