William Jessup, UC Davis basketball teams to host charity game for Dixie Fire victims

William Jessup University and the University of California, Davis will host a charity basketball game later this month to raise money for victims of the Dixie Fire.

The men’s basketball teams from both universities will play at Warrior Arena at the William Jessup campus on Oct. 30 in the hopes of raising $50,000 — all of which will be used to support victims of the Dixie Fire, the second-largest wildfire in California history, which displaced thousands of residents across five counties.

In a statement, William Jessup’s athletic director and head men’s basketball coach Lance Von Vogt said, aside from being a great game between two great teams, the cause is “much bigger than basketball.”

“When (the fire) is going on, everyone is paying attention, but a couple of months go by, and people move on with their lives,” he said. “This is an opportunity for us to show that we are still thinking of them, we still care for them, and you have a community of people that are right there with you, and we are going to do the best we can to help you through the trials and tribulations that you are facing.”

The Dixie Fire is now nearly fully contained at 963,309 acres. Just 6% of the massive wildfire remains ahead of fire lines, burning in remote wilderness in the Lassen National Forest. But the wildfire proved highly destructive since it ignited July 13 in the Feather River Canyon.

Current damage reports from the U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire indicate at least 1,329 structures were destroyed by the fire, and 95 more were damaged. Most of the town of Greenville was destroyed in the fire, and the homes and possessions of many other evacuees were lost elsewhere in the path of the fire.

All evacuation orders and warnings have since been lifted as fire crews gain the upper hand over the wildfire, but UC Davis men’s basketball head coach Jim Les said in a statement that the impacts in the community are far from over.

“The Dixie Fire put our community under duress, and the effects are long-term,” Les said. “This exhibition game at William Jessup allows us to raise money to help support the recovery as well as shed light on the resources still needed to help the rebuild of our neighbors in the foothills.”

According to William Jessup officials, both the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics approved the charity game, and all proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross to be used for Dixie Fire relief.

Tickets for the charity game are on sale for $25. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. and doors open at 6:30 p.m. There will also be a halftime ceremony honoring members of the Placer County Fire Department. A boot will be passed around for those who want to donate to the department.