Fire destroys Calif. town; nearby paper steps up to cover it: 'These are the numbers, but they don't tell the story'

Greenville before the fire (Google maps) and after (above)

The Dixie Fire, now one of the 10 largest in California history, has destroyed most of the town of Greenville. And though the story has been covered by many nationwide outlets, one based an hour away, in Quincy, has stepped up to cover the story comprehensively.

Nationwide stories have covered the size of the fire and progress on its containment, and the Plumas News has those essentials, but as one update noted, "these are the numbers, but they don't tell the story." Only from a local paper can readers hear whether a beloved local bakery has survived. And only a local news source can help outsiders understand how Greenville's natural beauty and quirky residents made it special, as this moving "Eulogy for Greenville" does.

Plumas News is an umbrella website for six local newspapers owned by Feather Publishing Co., whose owners kept the paper local by selling it to longtime employees Cobey and Susan Brown a year ago. Cobey Brown, now the president and publisher, has been with the company for 33 years.

The print editions halted in April because of the pandemic, but Plumas News is still providing vital local coverage online. It's filling other community needs too, publishing notices about missing people and providing a place for community members to voice their grief.