Malibu Jewish camp damaged by California wildfires

The Malibu Shalom Institute reported damages to its buildings by a fire that claimed the lives of 25 people.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERS
Updated: NOVEMBER 11, 2018 09:15
A firefighter battles the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, California, U.S. November 9, 2018. The fire destroyed dozens of structures, forced thousands of evacuations and closed a major freeway. (photo credit: ERIC THAYER/ REUTERS)
A firefighter battles the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, California, U.S. November 9, 2018. The fire destroyed dozens of structures, forced thousands of evacuations and closed a major freeway.
(photo credit: ERIC THAYER/ REUTERS)
The Malibu Shalom Institute suffered structural damage due to a wildfire that claimed the lives of 25 people in California, the institute reported on its Facebook page on Sunday.
"Our staff, animals and torahs were all safely evacuated yesterday, and we are thankful for this," the staff said.
Established in 1951, the JCA Shalom camp is a nonsectarian educational center which serves roughly 25,000 Jews from all streams of Judaism.
"Camp is magical, but its magic transcends the buildings and structures," the staff said, and invited community members to a special event at the de Toledo High School to be held on Sunday at 7 p.m.
The fire, which was reported to have started by careless campers, burned down more than 6,700 homes and businesses in Paradise, CA, more structures than any other California wildfire on record. The death toll, which could still rise, also made it one of the deadliest wildfires events.   
President Donald Trump early on Saturday said that "gross mismanagement of forests" was to blame for two unchecked wildfires burning.
"There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor," he wrote on Twitter.
"Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!," he added.