The signs are all over Redding, California.
Some colourful, most handwritten, the odd one a bit cheeky.
But all expressing the same sentiment: the city is beyond grateful to the thousands of firefighters who prevented a greater catastrophe here.
Exhausted firefighters were even being offered free massages in the lobby of one hotel.
Those thousands of homemade signs though are the clearest outward expression of a community's thanks.
"Keep kicking ash", "Fuelled by fire, driven by courage" and "Thank you to all our superheroes," they read.
While most of Redding – a city of 90,000 people – escaped the flames, hundreds of buildings have been destroyed in the surrounding area.
For people facing extreme stress, gratitude takes many forms here.
Steve Donici's home is a pile of ash but he's thankful to have made it out alive, the fire was bearing down as he and his wife evacuated their home.
He even managed to evade police barriers on his bicycle to check on the damage, accompanied by an insurance assessor.
"You can always re-build. We're glad to be here," he said.
The fire was so intense in this neighbourhood that very little is recognisable.
There is the odd signifier that people's lives and passions once resided here: a collection of vintage Volkswagens sits wrecked on a drive.
There is growing anxiety among the thousands who were forced to leave their homes and haven't been allowed to return to see what is left.
The emergency services say they will only allow people back once areas have been made safe.
Fire hotspots remain and power and water supplies are patchy.
Confirmation that people have been arrested for looting is adding to the agitation.
At the biggest of the evacuation shelters, on the campus of Shasta College, hundreds await news in a stifling heat.
Bobbie DeMarcus, with dog Susie for company, has no idea whether the mobile home where she lives survived the flames.
"I just don't think about, I try not to think about it. I'm 74, and I'm holding up pretty good."
Outside, a message board contains pleas for information about some of those unaccounted for.
The shelter, which has been at full capacity for days, is likely to be needed here for weeks.
More from California Wildfires
It is a telling piece of information. It will be a long time before these communities are anything like back to normal.
If the initial shock has passed, the reality of the long road ahead is sinking in.
The signs are all over Redding, California.
Some colourful, most handwritten, the odd one a bit cheeky.
But all expressing the same sentiment: the city is beyond grateful to the thousands of firefighters who prevented a greater catastrophe here.
Exhausted firefighters were even being offered free massages in the lobby of one hotel.
Those thousands of homemade signs though are the clearest outward expression of a community's thanks.
"Keep kicking ash", "Fuelled by fire, driven by courage" and "Thank you to all our superheroes," they read.
While most of Redding – a city of 90,000 people – escaped the flames, hundreds of buildings have been destroyed in the surrounding area.
For people facing extreme stress, gratitude takes many forms here.
Steve Donici's home is a pile of ash but he's thankful to have made it out alive, the fire was bearing down as he and his wife evacuated their home.
He even managed to evade police barriers on his bicycle to check on the damage, accompanied by an insurance assessor.
"You can always re-build. We're glad to be here," he said.
The fire was so intense in this neighbourhood that very little is recognisable.
There is the odd signifier that people's lives and passions once resided here: a collection of vintage Volkswagens sits wrecked on a drive.
There is growing anxiety among the thousands who were forced to leave their homes and haven't been allowed to return to see what is left.
The emergency services say they will only allow people back once areas have been made safe.
Fire hotspots remain and power and water supplies are patchy.
Confirmation that people have been arrested for looting is adding to the agitation.
At the biggest of the evacuation shelters, on the campus of Shasta College, hundreds await news in a stifling heat.
Bobbie DeMarcus, with dog Susie for company, has no idea whether the mobile home where she lives survived the flames.
"I just don't think about, I try not to think about it. I'm 74, and I'm holding up pretty good."
Outside, a message board contains pleas for information about some of those unaccounted for.
The shelter, which has been at full capacity for days, is likely to be needed here for weeks.
More from California Wildfires
It is a telling piece of information. It will be a long time before these communities are anything like back to normal.
If the initial shock has passed, the reality of the long road ahead is sinking in.
