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Threatened by fire, town celebrates Halloween a week later

Posted at 10:34 AM, Nov 10, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-10 13:34:23-05

HEALDSBURG, Calif. (AP) — A town in California's wine country finally celebrated Halloween after evacuations from a huge wildfire forced residents to postpone trick-or-treating for a week.

The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reports hundreds of residents came to Healdsburg's main square Friday afternoon where local firefighters and businesses handed out candy and families gathered for face-painting, games and other festivities.

Many came dressed in costumes because they didn't get to go trick-or-treating on Halloween, when the Kincade Fire threatened the town and forced as many as 200,000 people in the region to evacuate.

The fire, which began Oct. 23, burned 121 square miles and destroyed 374 structures. It was fully contained on Wednesday.

Many held signs thanking firefighters and first responders. One resident said the gathering signaled a return to "a little normalcy."