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Brush fire destroys dozens of homes in Niland and kills one person

By ,
June 29, 2020 11:15 PM
Published 1:24 PM

Niland, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Sunday night a fire broke out in Niland the Imperial County Fire Department confirms there was one victim whose body was discovered at the fire scene.

 The fire displaced over 500 people and left 130 without a home.

The imperial county fire department says As of Monday approximately 37 structures were destroyed affecting about 43 families.

The entire town of Niland was evacuated.

The fire department says the fire spread rapidly because of the high winds.

“So because of its proximity to the city and the way that it was spreading so quickly the decision was made to evacuate the entire township. We utilized resources from the Imperial County Sheriff's Department, Border Patrol, and California Highway Patrol,” said Lindsay Dale, Imperial County PIO.

Evacuees were sent to Calipatria High school where a temporary shelter was built.

“People that we’re requiring umm temporary housing were provided with temporary housing in a local hotel.”

The Fire was contained Monday afternoon.

The red cross is assisting evacuees at a local inn in Calipatria.
Providing them with food and water.

“It’s a very sad situation from Niland so we’re trying to commence and work with the people that lost their house and apartments and we work with the fire department, red cross and we try to make sure everyone is happy, quiet and asleep and we’re trying to care of them and make sure everything goes back to normal,” said Dipak Patel, Owner of Calipatria INN and hotel.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

If you were affected by the fire and have questions regarding assistance, please call American Red Cross at 619-517-2737. For further, please call our EOC Operations Center at 442-265-6060 and option for Operations, you can talk to the Health and Human Services Task Force.

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Gianella Ghiglino

Peruvian-born and LA raised Gianella Ghiglino joins the team from the San Fernando valley. “LA is the place that taught me how to breath and Peru is my breath.” She says she was inspired by the community she grew up in and began documenting her experience through poetry at the age of 7. “I wrote about everything I saw, felt and everything that inspired me.” When she entered High School she joined her school news station and realized that broadcast journalism allowed her to pursue her passion and her purpose all at once. Gianella attended Cal State Northridge and received a Bachelors degree in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Spanish Broadcast Journalism, and Political Science. She did several internships while in College but most notably interned for PBS’s local LA station for three years. “My purpose is to share my story and of those in my community, my passion is writing.”

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