‘Ominous’ Piece of Burnt Paper Falls From Sky Amid Fast-Moving California Fire

Video shows cars trying to escape massive blaze

A California woman discovered an “ominous” burnt piece of paper that fell from the sky, just miles from a fast-moving wildfire in Northern California.

Nicole Kowalczyke, of Chico, said she saw a “very ominous” outside her house.

“Then, this piece of paper came from nowhere,” Kowalczyke told the San Francisco Chronicle. “It was kind of like a leaf ... how they fall down.”

This photo provided by Nicole Kowalczyke shows a piece of a burned page that fell out of the sky in Chico, Calif., on Nov. 8, 2018, as the Camp Fire burns nearby. Nicole Kowalczyke via AP

The Camp Fire has destroyed thousands of acres, and according to one local official, the fire has “pretty much” destroyed the entire town of Paradise, which is about 15 miles east of Chico.

The paper looked like it was from a book, she said. “I thought, ‘If this is a piece of the Bible, this is going to be crazy,’” she told the Chronicle.

But when she inspected it, Kowalczyke realized it was from a fire manual that includes information about fire hoses and the proper pressure.

The Camp Fire destroyed businesses, homes, restaurants, supermarkets, and a retirement home, USA Today reported on Nov. 9.

California Fire Capt. Scott McLean stressed that most of the town of Paradise was “pretty much…destroyed” in the fire.

“Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it’s that kind of devastation,” he also told The Associated Press. “The wind that was predicted came and just wiped it out.”

Evacuation orders were sent out for the communities of Paradise, Magalia, Concow, Butte Creek Canyon, and Butte Valley. Evacuation zones were posted on Cal Fire’s website. CalFire

He said that several thousand structures were burned in Paradize, which is located about 180 miles northeast of San Francisco.

The Camp Fire, meanwhile, has burned at least 20,000 acres in Northern California, forcing the evacuation of 40,000 people. Currently, about 15,000 structures are being threatened by the fast-moving fire, fire officials told AP

“It’s a very dangerous and very serious situation,” Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea told USA Today. “We’re working very hard to get people out. The message I want to get out is: If you can evacuate, you need to evacuate.”

More than 40,000 people were ordered to evacuate on Nov. 8 when a fire tore through Paradise, California, according to reports. CNN

Evacuation orders were sent out for the communities of Paradise, Magalia, Concow, Butte Creek Canyon, and Butte Valley. Evacuation zones were posted on Cal Fire’s website.

The National Weather Service also issued red-flag warnings for fire dangers in many areas in California due to low humidity and strong winds.