Firestorm in the MountainsOct 22, 2007 |
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| Monday morning, October 22, I left for work at 5am. It was dark and I was unaware that seven miles away, a small spark started a fire that would change many people's lives. I drove to Rancho Cucamonga, about 45 miles away, for my normal shift. At 0930 hours, I was out driving and noticed a large plume of smoke coming from the mountains where I live. A quick trip back to the station allowed me to get updates and find out what was happening in Running Springs. The news was bad as two fires were burning, one in Lake Arrowhead and one north of Running Springs near Green Valley Lake. I made the decision to go home as I had a gut feeling that evacuation was a strong possibility. After some fast talking, I was allowed to drive up the mountain and get home. Most people were coming down and the CHP was not allowing anyone up as the area was under mandatory evacuation orders. I managed to convince a Highland Sheriff's sergeant to allow me to follow a television new vehicle up and made it home around 1130. There sat the motor home, packed and ready to go, but not the way I thought it would be. The smoke was very thick and black to the northwest and occasionally floating through the neighborhood. I contacted several neighbors who were also packing to leave and we exchanged cell numbers to stay in touch. I gathered the basic "can't live without or replace" stuff, the dog and the two cats and loaded everything in the RV. For the second time in four years, I walked thru the house, remembering what I had and hoping I would have a house to return to. At 5:45 pm, I drove out of the driveway and headed down highway 330. It was a strange feeling driving the RV and wondering what it would be like to live in it. Four years before, we were sent off the mountain for two weeks. I wondered how it would play out this time. I dropped Kaji off at Sharon's as she would be happier in a yard with another dog to play with. I then continued to the Rancho Sheriff's Station and parked the RV directly in front of the Department mobile command post in the form of a 40' motor home. I figured since I left my car behind, I could walk across the parking lot and "walk to work." The commute would definitely be a piece of cake. |
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