Calistoga residents got the green light to return home Monday after North Bay wildfires prompted authorities to issue a mandatory evacuation for the entire city last week.
The mandatory evacuation order issued Wednesday turned Calistoga into a ghost town.
On the city's main drag, several shops started reopening Monday. Others will take a few more days to get back to business. But everyone is breathing a sigh of relief that they had a town to come back to.
Mayor Chris Canning welcomed residents back home and urged people to prepare for helping neighboring communities.
"Let's get ready to help our friends and neighbors in Napa County, to our neighbors in Sonoma County," Canning said.
Just down the road in Napa, a local assistance center is now open for those who do not have a home to come back to. Victims can get help with things like car and rent payments, and government loans.
Simon Timony spent his day at the assistance center looking for missing people. He has been able to reunite about a dozen families, some whom he found in shelters.
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The message is clear back in Calistoga: Get in, get settled and get ready to help others.
"At the end of the day, when everyone needs a rest and a break, come back up to Calistoga and we'll take care of you," Canning said.
