Fire Update Blog
This blog has been created so that the MPH community can communicate with each other during this difficult time. It's intent is to let staff and community to be able to communicate with each other while we are displaced from our mountain home.
Please note that each party is responsible for their own blog entries. Please remember to keep this blog family friendly in all communications....
32 comments:
Dear Colleagues,
Cindy and I decided to weather this one at home. We have not felt in danger, had plenty of emergency supplies, and remembered the feeling of helplessness the last go around. We have been packed and ready to go since Monday, along with 5 young adult children (Chris, Katie, Noah and Nick Burke, and Ryan Tracy. Ice chests ready to pack up the fridge too...didn't want to come a stinky fridge again. We have had water, electricy, gas, wood stove, and plenty to do. Many people have called us, and we have checked on neighbor's homes. Keeping an eye on the neighborhood, but not venturing out to stay out of the way of emergency personel. Heard from Tad (at home), and the West's(in the desert) and heard that Ron Bench stayed on the mountain too. Many homes are lost in our attendance area. Our prayers are with all the families affected by the fires in all of California. I hope you all are safe . . .
Your friends, Ron and Cindy Parker
Dear MPH Family,
My parents and I have evacuated to my aunt's house in Seal Beach. We live close to the hospital in Lake Arrowhead and we left when the hospital was evacuated. We wanted to stay, but the stress of possibly not having an escape route was too much to overcome, especially with the Slide Fire creeping towards us on Tuesday afteroon. I also evacuated my cat and my neighbor's dog. It was a long trip to Seal Beach with animals in the cars in 5-o-clock traffic.
I have been monitoring the fire and police scanners for the mountains communities since Monday afternoon. You can access a transcription page of the scanner chatter at http://www.rimoftheword.net
I went to MPH yesterday and it's serving as a staging area for fire personnel and Channel 7, ABC News. The inside of the school smells of smoke, but the school is intact. Our view of Brentwood and Trinity hill is sobering. You can see where the fire passed. Some houses are standing and others have burned. From what I understand, Sandalwood is safely intact. It's a very sad thought knowing we all have family, friends and co-workers that live in the Grass Valley area. My prayers are with you.
I saw Tad and Darren (of maintenance) at MPH yesterday and they seem to be holding down the fort. Thank you guys!
Before evacuating, I watched the progression of the Slide Fire from the view from Banff Rd. on the "knoll" in Lake Arrowhead, above the hospital. The fire moved quickly, being wind and fuel driven. My heart and prayers go out to all of our family, friends and co-workers that live in Green Valley Lake, Running Springs, and Arrowbear.
As of 5:00 pm, Wednesday afternoon, I was seeing reports of CHE being threatened by fire from the south. The CHP station in Running Springs was also being evacuated around this time. The Grass Fire has been reported to be 30% contained and the Slide Fire was moving to the east towards the burn area of Butler 2.
For all evacuees, please invest in some breathing masks. The southland is very smoky. I'm currently in Seal Beach and the sun was red in the sky all day and ash has been settling on everything.
My parents and I are doing well. Our stress is reduced being evacuated, however we are worried about our home and the welfare of our friends and their homes. Our prayers are with you.
For those of you still on the hill, I heard that Pastor Ron of COTW might still be on the hill, taking up residence at the Resort. Stater Bros and Jensens are both open and 5-points and/or the Depot are pumping gas.
Please stay safe.
John Beresford Jr.
Hello All....
My family, dogs, and I are living in a Hotel in Palm Desert (same hotel as 4 years ago). We came down Monday and kept driving to get out of the smoke. I've been emailing friends (thanks to the new school laptop)and would love to hear from you. mrschuster@yahoo.com is the address I'm using.
Our home in Running Springs is fine for now but many areas are not. I'm sorry for any losses you may have had. Please add your post to this blog and help us identify those in need.
Stay in touch,
Randy, Mary Pat and Kaley
Dear MPH Family,
Laurie Bench and Darlyn Phillips are thankful that our homes in deer lodge park are safe. We get updates from Ron Bench several times a day. Thank for being such a caring family. We Love and Miss you All and hope to see you soon. You are in our thoughts and prayers!
Love, Darlyn and Laurie
Hi All,
Joel and I are with the kids in Indian Wells and are very happy to hear from you! As of this morning, our house was safe, but at least five or six on our street burned. We have many friends who have lost theirs. We're doing okay, but it's sure tough emotionally.
Everybody stay safe and hopefully we'll see you all soon!
Love, Melanie
It's good to hear from so many of you.
I saw Tom Van Bebber and the Johnson Family Singers on Channel 9 news at an evacuation center in San Bernardino. I also saw a few familiar student faces from MPH on the broadcast as well.
Slide Fire update: 16% contained
my email:
john_beresford@mac.com
mrberesford@gmail.com
my cells:
909-273-8472
909-496-8795
Talk to everyone soon.
John Beresford Jr.
Hello all. Tim and Tina are extraordinarily blessed. How our lives survived as they have is beyond understanding. When we left there was fire on the ground about 500 yards from the end of our street. One house was already smoking horribly. Garrett was evacuated from his dorm in San Marcos at 2am, so we were already sleeping poorly when we got a scanner call at 5 (?). Opened the door, smelled the smell, and woke most of our street. The smoke trail was flowing directly down Riviera. Left a while later with Lauren and Tina. We are in the desert with great friends making an annoyance of ourselves, well, me at least. Thanks to Ron Bench for reassuring information, caring for those firefighters, and whatever other heroics he has done, AGAIN! Thanks to Hugh Miller who has been so active on behalf of those of us who left, and who provided more reassuring information. Hope to see you all soon. We've got plenty to do when those kids show up. Our best wishes to all. Tim 909-844-2319 909-553-6388
Hello all,
Dave, Sandy and Rosie Esquer are fine and in Mohave Valley, Arizona. Our phone number is 928-768-2321 and Dave's cell is 909-273-0985.
We left on Monday at 11:30 a.m. with the reverse 911 call from the Sheriff's office. Having done this before, we had lots of calm time to get ready.
We went to the Post Office because Sandy had to pick up a LARGE check for a client and then I realized that I had only pictures of the interior that were from the Old Fire. So, we returned and took the pictures and headed out to LA to stay with my Mom.
Tuesday, we headed out to the Orange Show, registered with the Red Cross and saw lots of kids and teachers (Jim Whitesell) and other staff (Kathi Bartlett).
It was comforting to see CSEA already at the Orange Show along with the County Schools Office. Sandy left her name and cell number.
The news from Running Springs has been spotty but our neighbor is a CHP officer and as of this morning (Wednesday), we are still standing. A house on the corner of Valley Oak and Live Oak is lost, however.
Being out here, watching the Phoenix local stations is frustrating but Sandy (as the chief bread winner) is able to continue her practice (for the most part, she says).
I talked with Tad Smith this morning and know that our administration is doing a GREAT job. Thanks Bob and Tad.
I would be happy to update our MPH website with ANY NEWS BUT webmasters are not permitted website changes unless we are physically on the network at school. Hopefully, this will change real soon now - as we all know the power of the Internet.
We pray for all affected and hope to return to MPH soon!
Dave Esquer
Ron Bench safe and sound doing an interview on Channel 11 Fox news!
Hi to MPH,
We're down in Palm Springs safe and sound. The number here is 327-9608 and cell is 951-317-9696. I'm glad to hear that so far we as a group have positve news. Let's hope this continues.
Stay safe
Love,
Heide
Hi MPH Family,
We are so glad to hear all the positive news in this terrible situation. Laurie is off to North Carolina and I (darlyn) am off to San Felipe. Margaritas as what the doctor ordered. We can't wait to see all of you when we get to return.
Love, Laurie and Darlyn
Hi all,
I have evacuated to Palm Desert. Mama and I first went to RS to Morgan's with winter clothes. Then got booted out of there. Ryan's mom lives down in the desert.So, we are down here. Had to buy some cooler clothes at the Thrift shop.
Looks like Morgan and Ryan's house is still in peril in Running Springs though was standing last night. I miss you guys. Life isn't the same with out my MPH life. I know I would be needed when we return to school. I regret not being able to help.
Wakan Tanka kici un: May the blessings of the Great Spirit be with you all.
909-744-0743
Betty
My prayers and thoughts go out to all of you " up on the hill." My people here in Texas are in prayer that you all are safe. Take care of each other.
Hello everyone,
My family and I have evacuated to Yucaipa Regional Park. We are camping in our trailer. I left in a quick rush. I woke up to smoke and no electricity. Within 30 minutes they were "bull horning" my street to evacuate immediately. My husband was at work, so the girls and I quickly loaded the car and left. We thought we lost our house because reports showed our area. We were amazed to see pictures of our neighborhood and our home is one of few still standing. Homes on three sides of us burned to the ground. The streets ahead of us, behind us, and to the side of us are gone. My husband was escorted up the hill today to check our home. Besides smoke damage and a melted garage door, our home is fine. We don't know how long it will be until we can return to living in our home though. I am very concerned and interested to find out how school resumes and when.
If any of you would like to see pictures just email me at sjreynolds4@yahoo.com
Stay safe,
Janelle Reynolds
Hi everyone!
Got a call early Monday morning from Dave Esquer to tell me about the mandatory evacuation from Deer Lodge Park. Thank God! My husband drove like a maniac from Indian Wells to Lake Arrowhead and made it up the mountain by 9 am. Said the fire was right next door to our neighbors and there was smoke everywhere. Got some stuff out and bailed out of there. Found out on Tuesday afternoon from a Deer Lodge friend who had not evacuated that our house was still standing. My husband thought that we had lost our home, based on where the flames were when he was in the house. My condolences to those who have lost their home...
Miss you guys and hope all is going well. We come home every weekend. Our phone number here is 760-772-1818.
Take care and hope to see you all soon.
Rowena
Hi everyone! with my hubby stuck down the hill on Monday, i packed up 3 kids, 2 snakes, 2 bearded dragons, 2 tortoises, one starling (in a giant cage), 9 cats (including my neighbor's), and one tarantula, into my truck and headed to my sister-in-laws house--the drive on the 215 and then being diverted to 15 was an experience, everyone was tired and hungry and had to use the potty.... i hope that everyone is well. we have felt helpless down here and are currently going a little stir crazy...
-our thoughts are with you all everyday. Be safe.
~Nic
Hello all from North Carolina,
My Mom got here yesterday safe and sound. Nancy Ochs is in LA with her daughter. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone back home. Hopefully this horrible disaster will end soon. Stay safe and keep us posted on any news about Captain RB. Love and miss you all,
Cindy and Laurie
Hi all,
We were in Indian Wells when I got a call early Monday morning from Dave Esquer. Thank God! My husband drove like a maniac back to Lake Arrowhead to try to save what he could. Based on the fact that our house was full of smoke and that the fire was right next door to the neighbor's, he thought our house was not going to make it. Luckily, we heard from friends that it is still standing. My condolences to those who have lost their homes...my prayers and thoughts are with you.
Miss you guys...
Take care and hope to see you all soon,
Rowena
p.s. My phone number here is 760-772-1818
Hi Everyone--
It's good to see how many stories there are on this blog of homes being spared. It is great to see some good news in the midst of all this misfortune. Carol and I are fine; our house is in Crestline, so it was never in as much danger as those in other areas faced. Like so many of the rest of you, we came to the desert area. My mom lives in Palm Desert, so we came here Tuesday morning. Carol works in Hesperia, so she went back to work and is now staying in Upland with friends. Due to smoke concerns, now her school has been closed, so she will be coming back to Palm Desert.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you, and with all those affected by these fires.
Don and Carol Baggott
Thanks Scott. Creating a blog was a brillant idea!!
I'm glad to hear so many are safe. It was good to hear from Tad, staying onboard the MPH ship!!
My heart goes out to those families who lost their homes. I'm sure our mountain community will come together to help those who suffered such a great loss.
I hope we can be back at school soon.
Jeff Moss
Hi Everyone,
We are all at my Mom's in Santa Ana. Gotta love a woman that opens her door to my husband and I, our 2 kids, 2 dogs, 4 cats and a bearded dragon lizard. Our house is fine, but we had to leave one cat behind (yes, I know we have too many animals) and we are starting to get worried. All in all we feel blessed. Hope everyone is okay and look forward to seeing you all soon.
Lee, Nora, Garrett and Emily Salazar
Dear MPH family,
All of you are in my thoughts and prayers. My home on Sandalwood is okay.I am staying with my daughter Julie in Riverside. I hope to see you soon. Richard 951-780-1646
Hi all. I have children that attend MPH and RIM and we have evacuated to New Mexico with family. I've enrolled them in school there temporarily so they are not missing out. I was wondering if this is going to be ok for when they return to school in CA. Can anyone give advise on this?
That is great Richard. We were very concerned for you. You were one of the first ones I thought of when I heard where the fire was.
hi all....it's emily and jean goodman. we're staying in yucaipa w/my cousin...and all are fine. we've been here since monday just waiting around for news ;)
as far as we know our house is still standing, thank goodness. so now we're just waiting for all the chaos to calm down so we can go home and begin the clean-up process.
our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost so much.
emily and jean goodman
Still in the desert. Hope to see people soon. Miss you. Still wishing the best for all.
Tim and Tina,
Checked on your cars in the underground...They look great, the Porsche is still there too. It rained today, so they didn't even get water spots!
Here's hoping we see you real soon!
Ron and Cindy
Hello Staff,
Just updated the front page of the MPH website, take a look!
Dave
Tina has "a mind" to head home NOW. So.......Taking our across the street neighbors with us. See you soon. No power to our area as yet and none expected for a while, I am told. We shall see. Continued best wishes to all.
Nice MPH page, Dave.
Well, we (Wilma, John Sr, John Jr, & my cat, Argentina) are back home in Lake Arrowhead. Everything is ok here on Zion. Hope to see the MPH family back at school on November 5th, so we can start healing together. I found it interesting that I had left three bags packed & ready to go, for almost four years, after the Old Fire of 2003. I wonder if those bags will still stay packed this time. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone.
My Dad (retired Rim teacher and now a sub) just got an automated phone call from ROTWSD stating that all Rim school employees will be returning to their sites on Nov 1 and that students would be returning to class on Nov 13. Is this fact or fiction?
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