NORTHERN CALIFORNIA— Friday, Nov. 8 marks one year since the horrific Butte County Camp Fire broke out, claiming at least 85 lives and destroying much of the Northern California town of Paradise. While it is not a day to “celebrate,” some eight Camp Fire survivors do have something tangible to recognize: a 240-square-foot tiny home built and designed just for them by someone who knows all too well how it feels to lose a home to a wildfire.

“It is sad, it does make me want to cry,” said Oroville resident Alyssa Nolan, who lost her Concow home in the 2008 Butte Lightning Complex fire.

Inspired by the kindness shown to her a decade earlier, Nolan in January launched Tiny Homes For Camp Fire Survivors, a volunteer effort she is in the process of registering as a nonprofit agency.

“Strangers, people I did not know, showed up at my door with baby food, with everything I needed,” Nolan told Patch in a phone interview Friday. “It was so overwhelming so it is such a big blessing to be able to give back.”

Immediately following the Camp Fire, Nolan donated clothes and food. She did not have money to contribute but knew she wanted to do more.

“I prayed to the Lord and He impressed upon me to build these tiny homes,” she said. “That same night I launched a social media campaign to try to raise money and awareness. In one day, I raised $3,100 — all the funds needed for one house — on GoFundMe.”

Nolan has now raised enough to fully fund 25 tiny homes, and with the help of volunteers, just presented her eighth tiny home to a Camp Fire survivor.

Another 500 Camp Fire survivors are on her waiting list.

And just this week, after Nolan’s own mother was evacuated from her Geyserville home because of the massive Kincade Fire in Sonoma County, Nolan has extended the offer to Kincade Fire survivors — two of whom were already on her waiting list as of Friday.

Nolan, who has interior design experience, said she watched around 2,000 YouTube videos on building tiny homes.

The portable mini houses are a maximum of 240 square feet and are built on the frames of recycled camp trailers, she explained.

“We salvage the kitchen sink, demo the rest,” Nolan said. “Then I design each one custom for each family; we build it to their needs and fill it with everything they need, from linens to pots and pans.”

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It is a project she says would not be possible without all the help she has received from various volunteers and community partners, including the 4G Foundation and even the Bay Area-based CLIF Bar Company.

“The CLIF Bar Company; their VP heard about what I am doing and they are going to fund three homes,” Nolan said. “And they are sending 20 employees to help build for two weeks.”

Lutheran Social Services has agreed to fund 10 homes, she said.

Nolan invites Kincade Fire survivors who wish to be on the waiting list to send an email to [email protected]. Anyone wishing to make a donation or volunteer their time or resources can also reach her at the same address.

“It is a horrific thing to lose a home and it does take a long time to move on,” Nolan said. “But I am glad to be in a position now where I can help.”

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