Fires Ravage Southern California

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Author: Soo Jin Kim

Fires raging throughout Southern California captured the media’s attention last week, with seven confirmed deaths, 98 people injured, over 500,000 acres burned and 1,997 homes destroyed, according to the Los Angeles Times on October 28. The fires were the result of both arson and accidents; the Los Angeles Times reported that “two of last week’s 35 fires have been officially determined to have been deliberately set, including the 25,000-acre Santiago fire in Orange County.”

According to the Times, about 30 individual fires clustered around Southern California, including Poomacha/ Mt. Palomar in Northeast San Diego County, where 42,000 acres of land were burned and 20 firefighters were injured. Other locations included the Night Sky Fire in Ventura County, which was contained on October 22 after raging through 35 acres, and the Harris Fire in Southeast San Diego County, where 85,000 acres were burned, resulting in the death of five civilians and the injury of 21 civilians and 12 firefighters.

President George Bush declared a state of emergency in Southern California on October 23, which allowed federal aid to be used to fight against the regional wildfires. “We extend our prayers and thoughts,” he said. The announcement came after Governor Schwarzenegger’s request for federal aid.

Kaitlyn Page (senior) was personally affected by the Witch Fire in Poway, San Diego County which started at 11 a.m. on Sunday, October 21. According to the Times, a witness said the fire was possibly caused by downed power lines. Page, who lives in the Lake Hodges community of Escondido in San Diego County, was under mandatory evacuation. The Times reported that 95 percent of the Witch Fire had been contained as of October 29. Two civilians were reported dead as a result of this fire, while 22 firefighters were injured and 1,061 houses were destroyed.

Page said that her parents received a reverse 911 call at around 6 a.m. on Monday morning. A call from family friends three hours before the 911 call helped the family gain time in packing valuables, which included family photos, paintings, important documents and computers. Page said that her family’s two horses, boarded in the Bonsall area, were also evacuated. “All I cared about was that my family and my horses were safe,” she said.

Page said she remains thankful to the firefighters who helped save her house. “We know so many wonderful families who lost their homes, and it has been amazing watching the San Diego community support those who are in need during this time,” she said. Page is making plans to go back home in the next week or two, to join her family.

Associate Professor of English Writing and of the Center for Academic Excellence Thomas Burkdall was affected by the Magic Fire. Burkdall, who lives with his wife in Stevenson Ranch, decided to stay in his house instead of evacuating even though he was under a mandatory evacuation order. “We knew from our 2003 fire experience that we would be barred from returning for a long time, so we waited to see what would happen,” he said.

The Magic Fire burned across 2,824 acres, but was contained by 10 a.m. on October 24. According to the Times, the Magic Fire started due to an accidental spark caused from welding by construction workers.

“We feel extremely fortunate to have made it through two close wildfires in four years,” Professor Burkdall said. “Our neighborhood is well-designed to prevent fires from spreading, and the presence of water-dropping aircraft at a nearby fire allowed for swift and effective control of the fire. [My wife and I] . . . feel terrible for all those who were not so fortunate.”

Both Page and Burkdall are optimistic for the future. “I hope that even though the fires maintained a safe distance from Oxy this week . . . Oxy students will still reach out and help in any way they can,” Page said. “There are so many opportunities to help those affected by the Southern California wildfires, and I hope that students will help out with relief efforts.”

An interactive Google map depicting the locations of recent fires can be found at www.latimes.com.

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