Niland is a small agricultural town situated near the Salton Sea in southern California. It's one of the poorest communities in California and many of the residents lived already difficult lives. In June of 2020 a fire began in a nearby palm grove and was driven with incredible intensity by high winds blowing the flames and embers like a blowtorch into the sleepy town. Forty homes were destroyed and dozens displaced. Clean up was challenged by toxins in the soil and high temperatures reaching 116 degrees.