Southern California fires force members from homes

Southern California fires
force members from homes

PASADENA—Southern California members recounted their experiences with wildfires that killed 22 people and burned more than 3,000 homes in late October. The closest fires were 30 miles from church headquarters.

Deena Murray, elder’s wife Corona, California

Robert, our children and I finally were allowed back into our home this morning, Oct. 29. We were evacuated early Sunday morning, Oct. 26.

Thankfully the wonderful firefighters were able to save our house (although a few of our neighbors lost their houses or outbuildings, including the ranch across the street, which lost its barns). Our land looks like a moonscape with a few black stubs sticking out. We definitely don’t have to worry about a fire for a while. We found a business card from the firemen on our dining- room table. We loved finding it because now we know who to thank.

We’ve been watching different fire crews drive around putting out hot spots, and I have never seen such an exhausted looking bunch of men.

Out of our 11¹/2 acres, 11 burned, and only the one-half acre the house is on was saved (although singed in spots). Rescue workers brought bulldozers in to clear a break, set a back fire, put firemen around our house and thankfully were able to use the helicopters to do water drops.

Most of all we, and all of us affected by these fires, just appreciate all of your prayers.

Murray family. [Photos by Dave White]

Robert and Deena Murray’s home.

Dan Rogers Superintendent of U.S. ministers

Dan Rogers

As I left work in Pasadena for our home in Fontana Tuesday, Oct. 21, about 2 p.m., I could see a cloud of smoke rising in the east (about 50 miles away).

The closer I got to home the more I realized that it was coming from the area where we live. When I arrived home at about 3:30, the hillside behind our house was in flames (about 200 feet from our house). Firetrucks and rescue equipment were traveling up our street to get to the flames. Water was released into the floodplain next to our subdivision, and helicopters scooped up the water and flew over our home to drop the water on the fire.

By Thursday, Oct. 23, the fire had moved up and over the top of the hillside and was burning in the canyons on the other side of the hills. I felt we were safe, so I left for a church visit in Florida.

At about 3:30 Friday morning, my wife, Barbara, called me and said the Santa Ana winds (gusting up to 40 miles an hour) had driven the fire back over the hill toward our subdivision and that she and our son, Steven, had been ordered by the fire department to evacuate the house. They quickly grabbed what they could, threw it into our pickup truck and drove to my office at the church campus in Pasadena.

I arranged to fly back to Ontario on Saturday, Oct. 25. I flew from Orlando to Salt Lake City, Utah, and then boarded the plane for Ontario. Once in the air, the pilot announced that the Ontario airport was closed and we would be diverted to the Los Angeles airport. Arriving in Los Angeles, I took a bus to the Ontario airport and picked up the Mustang.

On the plane as we approached the Los Angeles area we were given wet towels to cover our faces as smoke filled the passenger area. When we arrived in Ontario, it was dark from the smoke and even with my headlights on it was difficult to drive. Ash was falling as though it was a snowstorm, and we even have ash in the air here in Pasadena, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Long Beach and as far away as Catalina Island (26 miles off the California coast).

Our house did not burn but was engulfed in smoke.

Pastor Tom Ecker

Here is an update from the California Inland Empire Tri-Church areas (Moreno Valley, San Bernardino and Palm Springs). The members in all three church areas were exposed to severe smoke from the wildfires.

The Esparza and Roberts families live in San Bernardino in the Waterman Canyon area where the fires burned. The Diehls, Lindseys and Schnipperts live in the mountainous area of Big Bear near the fires. All five of these Worldwide Church of God families had to temporarily evacuate their homes.

Joseph Tkach

Pastor General Joseph Tkach

Pastor General Joseph Tkach, his wife, Tammy, and their children, Joe III and Stephanie, live farther from the hills than the Rogers family does, so they were not threatened by the fire but have had the smoke.

Bernie
Schnippert

Bernie Schnippert
Church treasurer

Bernie Schnippert, church treasurer, and his wife, Arlene, live in Big Bear and were ordered to evacuate, but the fire did not come near their home.

Dennis Pelley
Pasadena pastor

We received a phone call from Linda Helscher, wife of elder Larry Helscher, requesting prayers for their son Mike and his family. They live in the Box Canyon area and had to leave their home because of the surrounding fires. Mike and Julie have four-month-old twins. They stayed with Jason and Melinda Helscher until it was safe to return to their home.

When they returned to their home it smelled of smoke, but they are thankful everything is all right.

Pastor Rand Holm

We had one Canoga Park member, Rex Lehto, who was evacuated. Rex lives in Simi Valley, and the flames were about 200 yards from his house. Rex is back in his home now, which experienced no damage.

Fires burned about seven to 10 miles to the north and northwest of our apartment in the Thousand Oaks area from Saturday, Oct. 25, through Tuesday, Oct. 28. Visibility was occasionally difficult, and air quality was at dangerous levels.

Our hearts go out to those who have been so dramatically affected, and our prayers are with all who have suffered terrible loss and destruction of property and even life. May God help us all through this difficult time.

Pastor Mark Stapleton

Three families from North County Christian Fellowship in Vista had to temporarily evacuate their homes. They are Amy Purdy, Terry and Peggy Powell, and Maureen Pinton.

“Thankfully, no one (in San Diego—Cornerstone Community Church, nor in Vista—North County Christian Fellowship) lost their home or property due to the fires,” Mr. Stapleton said.

“We thank you for your prayers,” Dr. Tkach said. “We certainly needed them. Though very disturbing and surreal, there is great peace and comfort in knowing who is in control.”

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