Wildfire in Southern California

[Adventist News]

Reports from Southeastern California Conference

We have some updates on our churches, pastors, and members that have been affected by the California firestorm. Please keep in mind that some of the information has not been completely confirmed. We are continuing to stay in contact with out pastors.

1. Crestline Church - Some of the members have been evacuated from their homes, although the church is safe at the present time.

2. Dulzura - One family home has been burned. The church is safe at the present time.

3. Escondido Spanish - At least 5 church family homes are lost, 3 mobile homes, and about 50% of the buildings at ol San Pasqual Academy have been burned.

4. Fallbrook - Several members of the church have been evacuated from their homes. The church was saved from flames at 3:00 am this morning. Two church families' homes have been burned.

Pastor reports church was surrounded by 50 foot wall of fire but five fire trucks bravely battled successfully to save the church even as surrounding homes burned to the ground. The fire department was picking what they thought they could save and did their best to save it.

5. Ramona - 2 church families' homes have burned. The church is safe at this time.

6. Some evacuated members of the San Marcos church are camping out at the facilites.

7. Paradise Valley church is working on a program to assist evacuees.

8. Most of the North San Diego County Pastors and church families have been evacuated from their homes.

9. Mabel Camp has called to inform us that Escondido Acaemy, La Mesa SDA, San Diego Broadway Spanish, San Diego Maranatha, San Diego South Bay, and San Diego Spanish (Eta Street) are open to members and are being used as an evacuation centers.

10. Escondido Academy, Hemet Adventist Christian School, La Sierra Academy, Murrieta Springs Adventist Christian School, and San Diego Academy have been closed for the day, due to smoke or flames.

11. Benjamin Anderson (Big Bear Valley), John Anderson (Valley Center), Basil Bell (San Marcos), Carlos & Elina Camarena (Paradise Valley Spanish), Jason Decena (Escondido), José Garcia (Escondido Spanish), Haroldo Guizar (San Ysidro Spanish), Ricardo Huerta (Fallbrook Spanish/Oceanside Spanish Co.), Andrea and Kurt King (San Diego Maranatha), Raúl Maldonado (San Diego Spanish), Richard Moore (Poway/Clairemont), Daniel Skoretz (Crestline), and Felipe Vielmann (Chula Vista) have been evacuated from their homes.

12. Samuel Nunez (San Diego Spanish/San Diego Broadway Spanish) and Yohalmo Saravia (Conference Evangelist) have been put on alert to be evacuated.

13. Richard Booth's (PSR Board member) home may be in danger, as fire is coming down the canyon from both directions.

May everyone mentioned above, as well as those in which we do not yet have information, know that our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with them throughout the day and night. We will be sending out an update on how we will be able to assist members and pastors who have been evacuated.

[Taylor]

I called our conference office and offered to take in anyone who needed a place to stay. We live in the "general area" and could help if need be. Poor souls. I really feel for them! It must be so depressing and scary for everyone.

[Rodney Willard]

I am just back from my 2nd shift at the Red Cross evacuation center in the Orange Show in San Bernardino. Over 70,000 have been evacuated from the San Bernardino mountain communities and fire-threatened areas in the valley. Many are staying with friends and relatives. And many are in their cars and campers. The rest we have on cots in the Orange Show buildings.

If any of you can help, we need nurses and physicians at the Orange Show - gate 8 Damus building where there is a first aid

screening area, nurse assessment screening, physician screening and transport to area hospitals for more severe problems. We hope to have several nurses and at least two physicians available at all times. We expect to be open at least through Friday.

Rodney Willard, MD

[CyberGuy]

Over 1 million have been evacuated so far from the path of these fires. It is overwhelming emergency services. My daughter in laws family in North San Diego County have been evacuated from their homes as the flames approached their neighborhood. We have invited them to stay in my parents home at my parents suggestion. So far her family hopes this is only for a day or so and declined for now.

[Adventist News]

From Southeastern California Conference

We just completed a teleconference with 26 of our pastors from the fire affected areas of our conference and have several updates for you and your members.

1. We appreciate the compassionate care our pastors and members are giving to displaced members and those who have lost their homes even as they ?wander? themselves as evacuees.

2. Our pastors shared both short and longer term needs with us. We will continue to communicate those needs to you.

3. Pine Springs Ranch and La Sierra University both have rooms available on a temporary one week basis for members/pastors who need a place to stay. Please call Brian Schwab at 951-659-4131 to access the rooms at PSR and call Sandy Roberts at 951-236-7877 if you need information on La Sierra University guest rooms.

4. Many pastors and members are volunteering at Red Cross Shelters and we encourage that volunteerism as an immediate tangible way to assist in this disaster. El Cajon Church reported they have taken blankets and toys to the shelters and we know other churches have been equally generous in their support of the community.

5. Caleb Jara, pastor of the Garden Grove Spanish Church, has organized a drive for donations this Sabbath at Orangewood Academy. SECC Community Services will be e-mailing you the information on items the pastors have told us they need at this time. Most of the pastors indicated the government is doing an excellent job of providing for evacuees in shelters.

6. We heard many stories today of members who lost their homes and have no insurance. The pastors emphasized the greatest need they have is financial as they assist displaced community members and help those who have lost homes get settled into temporary housing.

7. We encourage a special offering that can be used to help our SDA churches in the midst of the fire zones to provide resources both short and long term to members and the community at large. We will be talking to you Monday about the need but feel free to go ahead and collect an offering this Sabbath if you wish. Your treasurer can send it designated as ?SECC Fire Victim Relief? offering.

8. We had pastors tell us today they could use assistance with needs such as clean up, grief counseling, etc. but until they could regain access into the burned areas it would be difficult to coordinate this assistance. We will continue to monitor how we can assist them in a timely way.

9. ADRA has given SECC a generous donation to assist with this disaster. Doug Havens, teacher at Escondido Academy and ADRA employee, has agreed to help us with the distribution of these funds. If you are a pastor in the burn area and have not had contact yet with Doug, please call my office and we will connect you. Doug will be talking to you at our meeting on Monday at Mt. Rubidoux. (Sandy?s office ? 951-509-2290)

10. We continue to pray for all of you affected by these fires. Please e-mail or call us if there are other ways we can provide support.Cheers and blessings