California Baptists aid firefighters, residents

California Baptists are ministering as the state battles historic wildfires that have already burned more than 2 million acres.

More than 14,000 firefighters are battling about two dozen fires around the state.

“This is the worst fire season in California history, and it’s not even fire season,” California Southern Baptist Convention communications team leader Terry Barone told the Associated Press.

Lighthouse Baptist Church in Seaside has been hosting a mobile kitchen for two weeks, preparing hundreds of meals a day for evacuees of the Santa Cruz area fire.

“CSBC churches have opened their facilities to help in their communities,” Barone said, “but because of COVID-19 restrictions in California, it has been difficult.”