SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – The raging Oak Fire has decimated the traditional lands of an American Indian tribe in the Sierra near Yosemite that has lived there for centuries.
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Now, that group is struggling to find the help they need to get through the crisis.
A large contributing factor is that the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation is not a federally recognized tribe.
"We are not eligible for any of the county, state or federal relief funds, or any kind of emergency programs that would be on the ground," said Clay River, the Managing Director of the Miwumati Family Healing Center.
According to River, more than 100 people in the tribe have been impacted in some way due to the fire.
"We're talking about everything – we're talking about the loss of land, the loss of houses, the loss of pets, the loss of farmland and food access, damage to waterways," she said.
Without government assistance, the tribe has turned to online fundraising through a GoFundMe page.
"We definitely need financial support, we're also willing to receive physical goods," said River. "We know we need to meet every essential need right now."
Some of the essential items people need are coolers, portable stoves, camping gear, water and toiletries.
The GoFundMe was created 3 days ago, so far the page has raised around $13,200 of the $500,000 goal.
The Oak Fire has been burning for five days, according to the CAL FIRE incident page. The most recent update Thursday morning had the fire at 19,156 acres, and 39% contained.
So far, 116 structures were destroyed and 10 have been damaged. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
As fire crews continue to battle the flames, it's possible that higher temperatures and lower humidity levels could contribute to increased fire activities, according to CAL FIRE.
A community meeting with updates on the fire's status and efforts to contain it will be held Thursday at the Mariposa County High School gymnasium at 7 p.m.
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