The Fires in California as told by our Friend Brenda Paige
Ron and Brenda were some of our favorite friends when we lived in Dallas. They actually left before we did and we have not been able to see them other than a night in St.Louis before a golf tournament. That was way fun! Anyway, they have since moved to southern California and you know what has been happening there this week. Please read this moving account from Brenda and keep them in your prayers!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Ron and I awakened to a second dawn of sobering gratitude for our continued safety from the fires raging in three directions around us. You asked if we are safe and doing ok, and my answer is a heartfelt “more than ok”, we are blessed, because we still have power and water and are able to live at home.
We began to hear fire engines racing and helicopters buzzing early Sunday night. The swirling winds were blowing with gusts up to 70-100 miles per hour from the Santa Ana Mountains. The humidity level was a mere 3%, with a record-low annual rainfall of less than 4 inches, so the thousands of acres of dry tinder were easily fueled with a mere spark.
By 2am Monday, the winds were high, and the stench of burning trees and homes were so strong we closed our windows to try to shut it out. We tried to rest, but the intense smoky air was a constant reminder of the helplessness of damage and losses occurring. We offered silent prayers for those lives affected in much worse ways than simply dealing with smoke fumes.
5am passed, (after a sleepless night), as we watched the sun attempt to force its way through the corpse-like-grey rain of ashes blanketing the air. We began to watch and read the tragic news about our neighboring towns evacuating for the safety of their lives.
As you probably know by now, Ron and I live in southern Orange County; equal distance between Los Angeles and San Diego, and approximately five miles inland from the Pacific coast. San Diego county, approximately 30 miles south had mandatory evacuations of more than 300,00 people, and neighborhoods ranging from low income homes to $10 million+ homes have been leveled to nothing more than embers. To our north in Malibu, known for its “paradise of homes to the famed” destruction falls at the same pace as neighborhoods with less fortunate financial status. To the east of us, in Orange County through the canyons are many newly developed neighborhoods with young families displaced by the inferno. We witnessed the effects of Mother Nature’s powerful control over our lives without judgment of age, gender, race or faith; and without regard to one’s station in life.
High Noon arrived, more fires had started, and the multitude of valiant Firefighters efforts to get matters under control, had most fires less than 10% contained. Ron was conducting his first major training class at the Offices in Irvine (nearly a dozen people had flown in from around the nation to attend) as the blazes continued. I could see from my kitchen window the hillside and canyon beyond with its smoke rising upward, and then falling into ashes on our patio. There was a strange silence in the air much like a newly fallen snow in winter; only this silence would not bring the joyful sounds of excited kids playing afterwards. This silence was carrying agony and despair over the losses created in the pathway of an angry Mother Earth.
I was mindful of the families who worked hard to purchase their first homes now being lost. I remembered the home of parents who watched their children grow by marking a special wall with permanent marker, and now was measuring their grandkids growth who were witnessing this unique wall dramatically collapse to never be seen again. The retired in their homes of respite with beloved pets would no longer be able to go home to their places of comfort and familiarity saddened me. I am feeling very thankful Ron and I have been spared another day.
Governor Schwarzenegger (the Gova-nator), declared southern California a national disaster area, and deployed over 1700 National Guardsmen to help fight the fires. Many homes and businesses were without power, but our home was still safe. By 3 pm., Ron called home to inquire about my well-being, and announced they were without power at his office. The news reporters were now encouraging people with “land-lines” to utilize those before wireless, to ensure enough clear networks for those hundreds of thousands (by now nearly 400,000) evacuees would have access for mobile phones. They were also encouraging conservation of water, as some of our sources were experiencing maximum capacity with over seventeen fires fighting. I gladly gave up doing laundry and watering my plants for the cause!
Today, we are able to see more of the Sun’s rays shining through as some of the ash and smoke began to clear in our area, but there is still danger of more fires starting as the winds continue to gust. We are told it will be much better within the next 24 hours as the weather patterns change the direction and velocity of the winds. Oh, what a day makes.
Thanks for thinking of us. I’ll try to keep you posted about any new developments that might occur as they affect Ron and me personally.
Now more than ever…live life fully and passionately!
Bren
