Noah Berger/AP Images
- A Walmart parking lot in Chico, California, is now the site of a makeshift evacuee camp.
- Californians fleeing the disastrous Camp Fire have gathered in the store's parking lot.
- Volunteers have also converged in the area to help fire victims.
A Walmart parking lot in Chico, California, is now doubling as a evacuee camp for Californians fleeing the devastating Camp Fire.
CBS reported that the fire has displaced thousands of people in Northern California. The Camp Fire's death toll has reached 56, making it the deadliest wildfire in California history.
One group of evacuees is now living in makeshift shelters in the parking lot of a Chico, California, Walmart.
A spokesperson for Walmart did not immediately return Business Insider's request for comment.
Read more: It was a thriving town of 27,000, and now it's smoldering ash; here's how Paradise, California, became a fire trap
On November 12, actor James Woods asked Walmart to keep the bathrooms in the store open for evacuees via Twitter. The company replied that it would provide fire victims with portable bathrooms, blankets, sleeping bags, and water.
Bay Area news station Kron 4 reported that volunteers were converging on the parking lot as well, passing out free meals, clothing, and water, and managing donations.
"All of us here are in the same situation - whether you lost a trailer or a really nice home, we're all in the same place," fire evacuee Laura Whitaker told The Chico Enterprise-Record.
Other evacuees in the camp told the local newspaper that Walmart had given them a $100 gift card.
On its Facebook page, Walmart's Chico location said that the company has created a foundation for Camp Fire victims. The company will reportedly donate $500,000 to the cause.
The Walmart parking lot in Chico is an impromptu city filled with Camp Fire evacuees. pic.twitter.com/KMp7xfUjKw
- Damon Arthur (@damonarthur_RS) November 14, 2018
This is what happens when a town with a population of 27,000 becomes homeless. This is an impromptu shelter and help station at a Walmart parking lot. pic.twitter.com/N4QTzwSCsc
- Dave Lee (@DaveLeeBBC) November 14, 2018
Chico's Walmart has become an outdoor free market where people have dropped off a mass of donations-clothing, food, toys, diapers-for #CampFire evacuees.
The parking lot also has become a refuge for people living in tents, cars as they await long-term help. #CaliforniaWildfires pic.twitter.com/fICINokSrB
- Dianna M. Náñez 🏜 (@DiannaNanez) November 13, 2018
There are medical supplies, food, pet food and camping equipment. A man just approached us saying he'd driven a mobile shower unit up from Modesto (150 miles away). If you're local, here are the details. #campfire pic.twitter.com/vEtVW9QOty
- Dave Lee (@DaveLeeBBC) November 14, 2018
A photo of the tent city I described this morning on @Americas1stNews. #Paradise evacuees are camped at the local Walmart parking lot. Photo credit to local reporter @KPAYBacaSports #CampFire pic.twitter.com/sSrf0MOQ77
- Matt Ray (@MattRayTalk) November 14, 2018
Thanks James. We're with you. We've brought in a number of portable bathrooms and are providing supplies such as blankets, sleeping bags and water to fire victims sheltering in our parking lot.
- Walmart (@Walmart) November 13, 2018