It’s hard to believe, but nearly six months have passed since the Creek Fire arrived in the Huntington Lake area.  From the moment the crisis began, people from all over the area have been working together to assess the damage and begin the long recovery ahead.  While looking ahead is important, it’s also critical to look back–to make sure a comprehensive record exists of what we have experienced, and what has been lost.  The Central Sierra Historical Society & Museum has worked hard to help the recovery process by forming the Central Sierra Resiliency Fund. With the Resiliency Fund’s Creek Fire Storytelling Project, they are taking on the mission of telling the story of the Creek Fire and its impact on the region, and they are looking to the community to help.

From the project’s homepage:

Dear Community Members, we want to hear YOUR stories about the Creek Fire and its impact on you, your family, and your life. Please share them with us. We intend to collect the stories, preserve them, and eventually weave them into the history displayed at the Central Sierra Historical Society Museum. 

Right now the Central Sierra Resiliency Fund is information gathering about what stories YOU have to share. These can be stories of places (homes/cabins/businesses), artifacts, or of your experience during the Fire itself.

If you know someone who has a story to share, but would like help recording that story, please contact us. We have assistants and historians who are willing to help! 

More information is available at the project’s homepage on the Historical Society website, including prompts to get your storytelling juices flowing and a form where you can submit your contributions.  They are accepting not just your memories but your photos, videos and illustrations.  The result of the project will be integrated into the Historical Society’s exhibits.  For more information, visit the project homepage or contact Kristin Telles at kristin@sierrahistorical.org.

Sean Wilson is the creator and administrator of the Raised at Huntington Lake project, and a fourth-generation cabin owner at Idylwilde Tract.  You can reach him at sean@raisedathuntingtonlake.com.