A sad procession of residents returned Monday to see for
themselves the devastation wrought by a wind-swept wildfire that
incinerated nearly 500 houses in a neatly kept mobile home
park.
By AMY TAXIN
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES – A sad procession of residents returned Monday to see for themselves the devastation wrought by a wind-swept wildfire that incinerated nearly 500 houses in a neatly kept mobile home park.
Ed Hurdle, 82, was among many retirees who lived at the Oakridge Mobile Home Park and saw all their belongings go up in flames.
“It’s gone,” Hurdle said with little emotion after taking the first park tour organized by fire officials. “The car is gone. The house is gone. It’s twisted metal. It’s totally charred there. There’s no hope at all. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.”
The tours came as calm winds and clear skies allowed firefighters to make gains on two Southern California wildfires that devastated hundreds of homes and forced thousands of residents to flee during the weekend. Most of the evacuation orders were lifted by Monday.
Since Thursday, three major fires have burned nearly 41,000 acres, or 64 square miles. Officials warned of another bad air day on Monday, and classes were canceled at dozens of schools near fire zones in Orange County.
In Sylmar, vans carried small groups past the rubble at the Oakridge park and made brief stops so residents who still had homes could collect medication or other essential items before returning to an evacuation center at Sylmar High School.
One black van was used to ferry people whose homes had been destroyed. White vans were used for people whose homes still were standing.
Betty Glassman, 78, was one of the lucky ones.
“My house was in great shape. All it was was dirty,” she said, smiling. “I feel like I’m in a dream. Pinch me.”
Among the dozens of people waiting at the school to take the tour was Tommy Reaves, 45, whose home was destroyed.
“I want to be able to stand in front of my house, and I’ll have closure. I’ll know it’s gone,” said Reaves, who paid $60,000 when he bought the three-bedroom, two-bathroom modular home in 2003, then did $40,000 worth of upgrades.
An inferno destroyed 484 homes in the park Saturday. Firefighters were able to save about 120 homes, but many were badly damaged. Cadaver dogs have been searching the burned units to determine whether anybody perished during the fast-moving fire, but so far no bodies have been found.
Elsewhere, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County, the fourth county to receive the designation since a series of wildfires broke out last Thursday. The declaration directs state emergency workers to assist local firefighters in containing the blaze and evacuating residents.
The largest of the fires, the so-called Freeway Complex Fire, has burned more than 28,000 acres in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties and has destroyed more than 160 homes.
The first of the wildfires broke out in the Montecito area of Santa Barbara County, about 90 miles northwest of Sylmar.
Wind gusts peaked at more than 70 mph at the height of the fires over the weekend, but weakened to about 20 mph on Sunday, the National Weather Service said.
“It’s wonderful news,” said Angela Garbiso, a spokeswoman with Orange County Fire Authority. “When it calms down, it obviously makes it easier for us to handle this massive undertaking.”
The cause of all the fires were under investigation, although officials labeled the Santa Barbara-area fire “human-caused,” said Doug Lannon, a spokesman with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Lannon said the fire started in a Montecito landmark known to be a popular hangout for teenagers. He said it was possible someone was smoking in the brush or started a campfire there. Investigators have set up an anonymous tip line in hopes of getting the public’s help in finding out who started the fire.
Anyone with information was asked to call 805-681-4171.
