SanPasqualAcademy.com

[Danny_J_Goff]

THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS POSTED IN THIS SECTION DO NOT ALWAYS REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF THE SAN PASQUAL ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND IN RESPECT OF INDIVIDUALS THOUGHTS WE WILL ALLOW POSTS UNLESS THEY ARE SERIOUSLY DAMAGING OR CRUDE.

THANK YOU. SPA ALUMNI BOARD

We have created a permanent web page for the Fire Damage of 2007. Here is the link:

http://www.sanpasqualacademy.com/SPAFireInfo.html

The link to the fire damage at SPA are submitted by Marie Kiley. She works with the bindery on campus:
 
http://picasaweb.google.com/goldenrulebindery

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Some more links to pics taken by Daneen Akers:
http://picasaweb.google.com/danmanakers/SPAFireDamageOct07?pli=1



Subject: Re: SPA Fire Info Updates
Date: October 27, 2007 8:05:23 PM PDT
To: webmaster@sanpasqualacademy.com

I still live in Escondido with my wife Shirley. We had to evacuate our home for three days due to the fire in Valley Center which was racing west with 50 mile per hour winds. The winds changed direction and our home was spared but many were not. As soon as the roads were opened my wife and I took a drive to see the damage around the county. One of the first areas to visit was SanPasqual valley and the academy. The fire did a lot of damage going through the cemetary and then burned the little store to the ground. We had heard the church burned, but it did not. The house just to the north of it burned and some between there and the pool area. The structure at the south end of the pool has a lot of damage and the little grade school house at the base of girls canyon burned. The fire raced through the grove burning anything in it's path including the picnic tables and benches. It looks like most of the homes on the hill behind the school were lost. Further down the valley it burned the old Judson house and dairy and a number of other homes in that area. Also a little further down the road stood that little building which was once the church where Sister White spoke. It also is a total loss. All the hills around the valley are burned and void of any vegitation. It will take years to come back to normal ( if ever ). The valley has withstood many fires in the past, but never anything like this. This one takes the cake. Ron Kunkel

More Photos: http://thegohorse.com/Pages/FIRE/san_pasqual_valley.htm

We finally received some pictures sent in by the Zimmerman's. Here is a link to them: http://www.sanpasqualacademy.com/SPAFireInfo.html

Thanks, Danny J Goff, Webmaster.


Received 10-26-2007 @ 1:15 PM

I'm sure you are hearing about the California fires, but have you heard about San Pasqual? I believe it was about Sunday night or Monday that so much was lost to fire. Hansen's house is gone, the church is there, the SS rooms are gone. Davis' house and Lewis' house are gone, the house in the middle is still there. I don't know about Spackers. The grade school is gone. The bindery is still there. Barnhart's and Cash's houses are gone and all of the houses up the road and Barnhart's, O'Neil's, the principal house. I don't know about Garrett's and the pastor's houses. The brick houses were burned and I don't know if they are salvageable. A couple of the houses down the next road are standing, the others are gone. Dolan's is gone. I'm not sure about where we lived. One source said ours was gone and another said it was still there. The dairy, the trailer park, the dairy house, the Judson dairy, Judson house, the big house where Meyer's lived are all gone. I don't know about the poultry or duplexes. The administration buildings are there. All through the years, God had protected that school and now that it no longer belongs to church there is all this damage. It make me wonder, but, of course, we cannot know that if we still had the school that it would have been spared. We will have 1000 years to ask questions and have all these things explained to us.
But this is not all. Tonight Dolan called and told us that a fire also went through the mobile home park near Fallbrook where we used to live. It sounds like all of those homes are gone. We have heard that most of Fallbrook had been evacuated. I know some of our people from church lived between the mobile home park and Fallbrook including the quads.
We are just fine. There is smoke in the air and dust and ash on the ground, and we are very fortunate. But it is difficult to wrap my mind around all the destruction.
You take care. We love you and miss you. Ilo

Received 10-25-2007 @ 3:32 PM

Danny,
The church has not been burned. The house to the north of the church is burned. Yes the Principal's house is burned. Most homes were actually burned. The dairy house was saved, but all the mobile homes were burned. My home was saved because my husband hitched up our 5th wheel and moved it down in front of the gym. It's easier to count the homes that were saved, so, 10 houses are left. What I'm referring to is all south of the 78. The Poultry house and the duplex where Dale Anderson currently lives, I have no personal information about them. I don't see fire damage down that part of the valley though. The old Judson(Rebecca Judson)home burned and several other old homes down the valley. The San Pasqual store(Oasis) was burned.
Marci Trussell(Whitcomb)

NEWSPAPER LINK: http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/san-pasqual-academy-suffers-heavy.html

Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:19 PM
Subject: Re: "Witch Fire" hits SPA

Hey Mark,
I was able to get out to campus yesterday afternoon. It's a mess and still burning. You are correct in that most of the "official" buildings such as classrooms, etc. are ok. The church has some damage, but not bad. The house beside the church (Hansen's) burned down....and the one next to Glen Lewis. The principal's house is gone, along with O'Neils, Clair Barnhart's, Bowmans, Willises, Cash's, Peterson's,Akers, Schmidt's, pastor's house, Hancocks....all gone. Left standing are mine (Zimmerman's), Underwood's, Kileys, McChesney's, Elder Davis, Jarrard, Gil, Schleifer. That's it. If you want to call me, I'm having trouble with my email server
No one seriously injured in that one!!! Both my kids had to evacuate. One north of Escondido, one south of Escondido.
Ray Trussell (firefighter who lived down by the horses near my house) helped out there all night.
I hope all is well with you....feel free to pass on info. I was there!

Sandy Zimmerman


Received 10-24-07 7:36 PM

Jerry Kiley just called to let us know the results of the fire. Rather than try to list the houses that burned, I'll tell about the ones that survived. The man who lived in the dairy house across from the trailers stayed and fought the fire with help from Marcy's husband. It survived, as did the houses just above the gym. (one row.) Jerry wasn't sure about the houses just below the principal's house and the one Dolan built. The church and Spackers remain. He wasn't sure about the Sabbath School rooms, but the grade school went. The bindery is O.K., but all the Judson houses went. The little store across the bridge went. The roads are still closed, but Marcy got in somehow and this info is from her and will probably be updated later. The administrative buildings are alright. It is hard to believe that the house we lived in so many years is no more. Such are temporal things.

Louise and Gene Bowman



Received 10-23-07 @ 10:37 PM

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.

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.

*********************************************

David Johnson
Director, Information Systems
SE California Conference SDA's
11330 Pierce St / PO Box 8050
Riverside CA 92515-8050
951-509-2240

Received 10-23-07 2:01 PM

Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 2:01 PM
Subject: RE: "Witch Fire" hits SPA

Mark,
 
The church is fine. The fire burned 13 houses, all the mobile homes and Spackers. The houses that were burned as far as I am concern: The Principal’s house; Mark Umeck’s; Mrs. Tupper’s;, Barnharts; Oneil’s, Peterson’s, Murcia’s; Willis’; Lewis’; ( the houses that were just by Spakers), Umecks’ was the between 78 and the church. I’ll keep you posted if I get more information.
It is really bad. No schools open, at least the Escondido H.S. and Elementary Districts. This means my two teenagers and I are out of school the rest of the week. We were under voluntary evacuation, but decided to stay because where we were going, was also evacuated. The fire was about 6 miles away from where we live (EL Norte & Ash).
Thank God, so far we are still in our home, we have food to eat, and if everything goes well, I will have to do a lot of laundry because some of the clothes that were left in the garage, are really smelly (smoke).
Last Sunday my husband, two teens and I were to the Escondido High School to volunteer there at the gym, ‘cause it was set up as a shelter. The Escondido HS has a farm, and our kids helped to get horses into their new temporary home,  that were brought there from people from the Ramona area.
Enough of us! How are you doing? Are you in the danger zone?
 
Elizabeth Ibarra-Haller


Received from Curtis Perkins @ 1:30 PM 10-23-07
Glenn Lewis, who was Supt. of Agriculture and Farm Manager. He and his wife, Rose, had three children: son - Gary, daughter - Karyn, and younger daughter whose name I'll have to share later. For most of the time they lived in a house that was either the second or third house "south" of the new church building. (their house was just "north" of the laundry/Spacker building).

Rose also served as school nurse for a year or more. The Lewis family arrived in 1966 and remained there up until 1991 or later.
Received as a forward from Curtis Perkins @ 1:10 PM 10-23-07
Here is the latest news about San Pasqual. The houses around the perimeter are all gone. still smouldering includeing ours also the grade school, dairy house, trailer area, The Judson dairy complex The big Judson house where we lived a few years, I think this was the oldest one in the valley. I understand the church and the main adm area are still ok. What a terrible tragedy has come to our school. . Seems remember reading that in the last days there will be un quinchabe fires. . Surely witth all the other world problems it cant be long be fore Jesus comesI hope to see you all then for a great home comming.. Love Glenn Lewis
Received a Call @ 11:09 this morning from Charlotte O'Neil that her daughter was able to get through all the road closures and onto campus using her military ID as a pass. She reported live that the Church was still standing but that there were losses on the homes and outbuilding.
Received from Curtis Perkins @ 8:56 PM 10-22-07
Earlier today I received an unofficial report that many of the homes on the former San Pasqual Academy campus were burned, including the church. The bindery, the dorms, and the ad buildings were saved. The school is owned by San Diego County and even though they have kept and use the San Pasqual Academy name there is no Adventist "connection.;

Leona Garrett, former employee of the Golden Rule Bindery at SPA, just forwarded these pictures. Note they are not of the San Pasqual campus; however, it gives us some idea of what may have been the case on the SPA campus. More details will be obtained later.

Sincerely, Curtis Perkins PS I was told that the home in which we lived prior to retirement was burned.
If we could see the end from the beginning . . . [url][/url]

Posted By Kelly Blair, 1984

"The new San Pasqual Academy is doing more for youth of San Diego County then when it was in the hands of the church. I can't...yes, I can believe that a former staff member would say something as asinine as "All through the years, God had protected that school and now that it no longer belongs to church there is all this damage. It makes me wonder..."

Yes, it may be owned by the City of San Diego, but they are doing more for foster youth anyone else. They are doing it with love and concern. They are looking out for these kids so that they may just turn out to be a credit to society. So what if they are not Seventh-day Adventists. GET OVER IT! They are doing God's work better than when "God's Chosen Frozen" mismanaged it.

We should be supporting them and welcoming them into our family instead of separating the school into two camps...them and us. We should be thanking God that the school has been spared, for the most part, and pray that the new administration/owners can carry on the work they set out to do.

Kelly B. Blair
Class of 1984"

[url][/url][url][/url]

Posted in the San Diego Union Newspaper Blog by Mark Alamo:

On 10/27/07, Mark Waldo <noreply> wrote:
Mark Waldo has left a new comment on the post " San Pasqual Academy suffers heavy damage":

It is very sad to see this fire go through such a wonderfull school, it has done so many great things in the past and now in the present. I am the SPA Alumni Association President for the past SDA school (1947-1997). We are not only fond of the school when we went there, but we still are today for the great things the County of San Diego is doing for all the foster kids. We are very supportive of the present academy and many alumni are very concern for the well being of the current student. I have been getting many e-mails expressing their concerns and wanting to know how they can help. Our association is not very strong financially, however we are all willing to help in the re-build and in any other way we can. We are praying for San Pasqual Academy's staff and students. We are one big family.
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Danny J Goff

[Kevin Barnhart]

It seems that until something you cherish is gone that you don't truly understand what impact it has had on your life. There had been around 40 years of a Barnhart family prescence on campus at San Pasqual. Clair was instrumental in "recruiting" my dad Bud to come and work in the bindery in 1965. When I stop and think of the kids I went to school and grew up with I realize that SPA was more than a school to us. It was our neighborhood and family. When I read the list of homes that are gone I think of the families that inhabited them. Louise, excuse me, Mrs. Bowman it was nice to see your post. I hope you and Gene are well and enjoying your retirement. Ilo, I remember always looking down on you guys as well as Perkins. For those that don't catch on our house was on the tier above thiers. Lewis's, Oniel's, by the way Darlene, I still can't eat a rose without thinking of you! Gary Lewis, I hope you survived the fires without loss. Every home there had a special place in my heart due to the special families that inhabited them. My e-mail address is bugbarn@aol.com I would be delilghted to hear from any of my SPA family and other SPA kids to share memories and how and where you are now. Living up in Northern CA. has taken me physically away from the SPA home but it lives on in my memories and heart. I used the link and read the posts from the more recent "kids" that have gone to SPA and realize God still blesses those that have had the privledge of inhabiting the campus. Man I mess spil chick. I could ramble on for hours, but I think I will close this post. Please feel free to drop a quick email my way and let me know how you are doing. Warmest regards and memories. Kevin Barnhart '73
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Barny

[jakethesnakewillis'57]

[/b] Hello Friend's from SPA. This is Jacque (Willis) Weinmann. I was at SPA from '72 to '76 . Ann Gallion was my roommate. We are still best friends and live 15 min from each other.
Doug Cruger, I would like to thank you for the pictures you shared with us all. Very Sad to see the damage. I'm so thankful no lives were lost there. Houses can be rebuilt. Belonging can be replaced. I have so many wonderful memories at SPA. I would love to hear from my former classmates and schoolmates. Here is my email if you'd like to drop a note. Jesbertw@yahoo.com Don't know where we will all gather for reunion this next yr. but I'm sure the Lord will provide. So, at the next reunion,please look me up, I would love to see you. We have our memories of SPA and those can never be taken from us by fire. so, untill we meet again at our next reunion, be safe and trust in the Lord. He will carriy us through till he brings us home. With love and memories, Jacque (Jake the Snake)

[wcw]

This account is from the cousin of Jeanette and Donna Judson.


The day the "Witch Fire" was born, I felt unusually disturbed by the howling and raging of the East wind. I have lived with "Santa Ana" winds a great deal of my life and grew up despising them for the destruction left in their wake but I have also learned to accept that fact so being so distraught did not make much sense to me that day. Once again, I watered the plants I had just planted, completing the bulk of landscaping my front yard for they were very dry. I tried to ease my discomfort with connection in my yard and nature.

I also found myself struggling to be ready for the much-anticipated visit from my Aunt Louise & Uncle Bud who were to come at 10:30 for a long-ago planned Sunday brunch. When they arrived, I remember telling them I was discombobulated and had been so all morning.

We enjoyed sharing a meal and conversation and then decided to check out the neighbor's gate and the land above me since none of us had been there for quite some time. We headed up Old Survey Road in my truck and while enjoying the view, noticed two distinct patches of smoke; one to the East, and another due south. It was about 1:30 and we did not realize that we were witnessing the very beginning stages of the Witch Fire and the growth of the Harris fire to the South.

Our neighbor shared his concern about the presence of the fire and we soon left for my place. My aunt and uncle returned to the coast and I went to the San Pasqual Fire station to check on the status of the fire and remind them where I lived. They remembered me, referring to me as the "Cross Lady" for the Christmas display of a giant 20 foot cross I always lighted for the holidays, carrying on my father's tradition.

I had plans for the afternoon but the fire department personnel I spoke with advised me to stay close as they said the fire was burning a thousand acres an hour. Although they said it was not really a problem, it was suggested I stay close just in case. Taking their counsel, I stayed in my home and then returned about 6:30 to inquire again about their progress in fighting the fire. I was told they had three units on the fire and expected it to pass behind me around to Highland Valley. Asking for a straight answer, I was told I should probably pack up just in case.

I did not know how to translate this information, called my friends in Montana who had experience in the Yellowstone fires and Mary gave me counsel about getting a plan together, calling in support, and taking some of my things. I called my mother and a neighbor came out to evacuate my truck and ATV, some of the family heirloom pictures I had and a couple pieces of artwork. Just as I was thinking how I wished that Linda and Marty were back from their medical work in Guatemala, Linda called and said they would come out.

Even though they were both sick, they packed a few more items in their car and brought a digital camera, insisting I take a picture of each room with its contents. My anxiety was growing by the minute, but I rested in the belief that the fire department would assist us, air support was at the top of my mountain and all my fire-fighting hoses, and equipment would come in handy. In addition, my brother and father had successfully fought off a fire that surrounded but did not touch the house in 1975-the last time this area had burned. Unlike my father then, I had more than an adequate firebreak around my property and a fireproof coating on my roof.

I was convinced that I was packing for just a few days away while they contained the fire. I was in constant telephone contact with my neighbor who rented my grandmother's house and the ranch property. She was in Ramona helping to evacuate horses but had many boarded at her place that I suggested she evacuate as per the information the fire department had given me.

The wind kept growing in intensity and was heavier all the time with smoke, making trips outside very difficult and further muddling my thinking. At about 10:00pm I received a reverse 911 to leave immediately and called my neighbor who had not gotten that call to say that I was leaving. My cats were packed in the car and I left an outside light on and my gate open for the firefighters. My aunt and uncle graciously invited me to stay with them and I robotically drove to Carlsbad, staying up until 2:00am watching the coverage of the fire with my Aunt Louise.

About 3:00 that morning, I received a call from Marci on my cell phone that she was leaving the valley and had just witnessed a power line from the Wild Animal Park fall into the Santa Ysabel creek bed and light a fire that was now raging West in the riverbed. She was leaving due to the intensity although her husband Ray Trussell had chosen to stay to help Mark a police officer displaced in the Cedar Fire of 2003 save his home. Some of you may have received Ray's accounting of that fire already-he has not sent it to me or I would have attached it.

Two hours later, at 5:00, Ray called me saying, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" as he proceeded to tell me that my home was burning and no firefighters were there; that they were not fighting the fire at all and he and Mark had been there all night and had managed to saved his home.

I threw on some clothes and drove out to the Valley thinking that I could save some part of my home---at least do something with all my fire hoses and equipment I had stockpiled for fighting fires. There were roadblocks everywhere and when I tried yet another entrance to the Valley at Via Rancho Parkway the police officer I spoke with apologized repeatedly, but kept stating that he could not let me go beyond the barrier. I asked him if they had Mary Lane blocked off and he replied that if I could get through Mary Lane to go for it.

That I did, and managed to descend into the Valley down the grade, seeing unbelievably that the entire Eastern end of the San Pasqual Valley was engulfed in flames. There were fires everywhere, billows of black smoke, flying embers and flames everywhere with the wind blowing at an incredible intensity. The upper perimeter of the Wild Animal Park was blazing, as were all the trees along the road, the riverbed, and the South end of the Valley, heading west. Both North and South sides of the hills had flames or some aspect of fire on them. I kept driving even though sparks and flying embers were everywhere and turned onto Bandy Canyon Road after passing the burned down Store, the Burkhart house and seeing many smoldering and burning orange trees-that I thought never burned. As I headed towards the ranch and turned the corner leading down to my driveway, I saw my grandmother's home totally consumed in flames, outlining each board, window opening and roof line-a blazing hot dimensional look at the entire house-I could see through to the inside of the upstairs. I gasped and sobbed, driving around the fire truck parked in the street and watching the flames engulf it. I made it to my driveway only to see the JB Judson home smoldering in a heap and the eucalyptus grove still burning to the East of it.

The house at the foot of my driveway where Marci's family once lived was burned to the ground and the eucalyptus grove between it and the ranch houses was mostly gone and still burning. I backed my car up towards the burned out house, and walked up my driveway, running past the burning areas to avoid the blowing embers. The wind was so strong that I was being sand blasted as I walked, having to shield my eyes as I looked down at the pavement and labored to climb my driveway, the air was so thick with soot, ash, and sand.

I had to move pieces of barbed wire and fence so I could walk; all remnants of the fence I had erected to line my driveway and keep out ever- present trespassers. I finally made it up to the steepest portion of my driveway, could not breathe, and was again hailed with burning embers so I lay down on the road, covering my head. There was sand on either side of me a foot deep on my road and I began to think my fireproof water tank had indeed burned and this was the result of the torrent of water that would have washed down.

Even so, I was desperate to get to my house-battling the pain growing inside me that I had lost my precious home. Yet I still wanted to climb the rest of the hill to see what I could do. I stopped when I noticed a fire raging around the bend. So, with the better side of reason now governing my decisions, I turned to run down the driveway, waiting in between wind gusts to avoid the flying embers and twisting and turning as I ran back down the driveway brushing my arms and back as best as I could as I ran.

I managed to get beyond the fallen trees and the burning grove at the base of my driveway and sat in my car, watching in horror the burning of the house my great-grandfather had built-where my grandfather and siblings, my father and aunt were born, and where I had lived with my beloved grandmother. I looked to my left and Frank Judson's dairy was a glow of hot fire and in front of me, the J B Judson home (the one my great-great grandfather had built) further smoldered in its demise.

I started my car to leave. Heading up the road, my way was blocked by a fire truck rolling down the road and so I waited since the tree in front of me was burning and I could not pass until they moved. I jetted past them only to see the trees surrounding my grandmothers' home now torched and burning along with the home as I now sped down the road, heading to Highway 78.

As I raced out of the Valley, I called my uncle, Bud Carroll to report that I was okay and heading back to the beach, trying to describe some of the horror and devastation I had witnessed. Back in Carlsbad, I remember describing my journey to my aunt and uncle and then again, to my Aunt Margaret and cousin Rease who also were evacuated. It was incredibly comforting to have them there as well as my aunt and uncle-such a reflection of the very kind, loving and benevolent family I am so grateful to be a member of.

Later that day, my mother was evacuated and I decided to return to see my home-still holding hope that some of it was still standing. Again, I was able to convince the roadblock personnel to let me pass and was able to now see in the daylight the extensive damage the fire had done. The Whitman's citrus grove had suffered greatly, both sides of Highway 78 were burned, and where once cottonwoods had obstructed the view across the valley it was now wide open. The riverbed vegetation had burned to the ground and everywhere there were smoldering piles of felled trees. As I turned onto Bandy Canyon Road, I could see a faint silhouette of my home and then came upon the burned out cavity of my grandmother's home, the ranch buildings-the barn, sheds, garage - now gutted and burned to the ground. All that was left was the chimney and one wall of the Annex of my grandmother's home. Further down the road, the chimney stood as a stark reminder of where the J B Judson home once stood-there was nothing left of my neighbors' gardens, chickens--nothing.

Walking up my driveway, I discovered corrugated pieces of tin strewn along the road from the burned out barn at the ranch, almost a quarter of a mile away. I could also see that my water tank was indeed still standing and the piles of sand on my road had come from the force of the wind stripping off the top layers of the naked earth, now devoid of any stick of vegetation.

As I continued walking, I could see that three of the six ranch houses had burned along with the garage of the little house where we lived before moving up the hill into the adobe. All the trees that had graced all the property on the ranch had burned to the ground and I had never seen the land so raw. My grove was still standing, fragile skeletons of the trees they once were. That was so hard to see along with my tractor parched and dead.

The pain of seeing my beloved grove destroyed was nothing compared to what awaited me once I reached the pad of my home. I could see that all my trees were mercilessly scorched or reduced to a pile of ash. All my plants were dead or burned to the ground. My home was gutted with only the adobe walls standing, framing the piles of twisted metal and dusty ashes from the family heirlooms and beloved treasures I had left behind.

I cannot describe the emptiness and darkness I felt at this sight, feeling deep the loss of my beloved frogs, birds, snakes, natural surroundings and most of all, my labor of love for the past four years. I could only stare and weep at the sight of the starkness of what lay before me. I have also since realized that one of the walls was missing, the support to my art studio probably blown apart from the force of my welding tanks (oxygen & acetylene) exploding, my weed-eaters with gas tanks and the extra gasoline I had stored in one of the cupboards.

When I returned to my office too numbed to drive any further, I contemplated what I might do if it too was burned; I truly felt I could not go on. It was said to be standing in the path of yet another fire bearing down on East Escondido. Gladly, I did not have to face that test.

Now, as I am healing, I realize how grateful I am to each one of you who has called written, extended prayers, condolences, love, and support. It is from your love and support that I am growing to a place of embodied awareness that I will get through this loss as well and somehow, something better will come of it.

I am moved to learn of friends, clients and family escaping safely and being spared the devastation of losing their homes. I apologize for the somewhat impersonal nature of a mass email but hope you know that eventually I will reach back to each one of you. I am very aware of your love and support and thank you for all your caring during this time of processing my loss.

I have witnessed the erasure of familial history dating back to 1875 and before. Many of you who will receive this email are also processing our loss-a massive re-ordering of the history we were so able to enjoy for so long.

I am profoundly grateful to my Aunt Louise and Uncle Bud for their loving kindness and support of me, housing me and my two cats, my buddies-Amadeus and Maverick. It is incredibly comforting to feel everyone's love and support and even though I have felt myself more fragile (consciously so) than ever before in my life, I can feel myself rebuilding the strength to put my life back together and now know that I will do that. It is from your caring, love and support that this is possible for me. I am relearning what is important in life - everything else is truly just stuff, albeit important, sentimental stuff but just stuff nonetheless.

In conversation with Laura two days ago, I discovered how fortunate I am that I did not grasp the reality that I was to lose my home. I know I would have done something very stupid if I had realized that ---I would have made a stand using all my firefighting equipment to save my home just as my brother and father had done before me. My stubbornness I know would have killed me after visiting the burn site of my home. My huge plate-glass windows were molten glass on the adobe sill, all my large appliances were crumpled and melted, and my patio furniture littered my driveway. It would have been very stupid and selfish of me and I am very grateful for what I have and that I did not do something so foolish.

I look forward to sharing a lighter aspect of my life as I emerge from this experience and once again wish you to know how very much I love and appreciate you and thank you for all your love and support.

Tarra Judson Stariell

[Tammy (Curtice) Stevenson]

I cant believe all the faculty houses that were burned, thankfully no one was hurt. It has been a long time since I have seen this campus, some places look the same and some don't. Some of the houses that the students used to visit are gone....Wegands and part of the Zimmermans.....WOW! Are these houses still occupied by the faculty that used to be there when the academy was up and running? I cant believe the GROVE survived with all those trees, its amazing. Does anyone know if there is or will be any type of relief funding we can donate money to?

Tammy Curtice AKA Tammy Stevenson
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Tammy Stevenson

[Danny_J_Goff]

Tammy,

The Board has received notes from many who wish to donate time or money to help do something for the Academy. Our President, Mark Waldo has written a note to Tia Moore who is the director of the SPA school and we will hopefully (when she can come up for air!) see where we might be of help. As soon as we can formulate a plan of how we can help we will let the Alumni Association know how you can help.

Thanks,

Danny J Goff
Webmaster/Vice President
San Pasqual Academy Alumni Association
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Danny J Goff

[ShannonLiz]

I posted the pictures I took in my MySpace blog if anyone was interested.
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=49943362&blogID=323346057

Shannon Hancock

[dnation90]

In reviewing the resent photographs of the campus and reading comments posted here under General Bulletin Board, it has been disturbing to read that many have not thought about those residents who currently reside (rather, "resided") in our old faculty homes. In viewing the photo's posted on the website, it appears that people were living in those old faculty homes and may need some assistance during this time.

As alumni, we should be setting up a donation fund to assist the current San Pasqual residents. If that is not an option, then we should be taking up donations of clothing and furniture to assist. In reading this Bulletin Board, it appears that there may be some former alumni and faculty living in Fallbrook and Escondido area. Is there some one who would be willing to take charge and collect donations? Has anyone thought about asking the Southeastern Conference to extend their collection funds for the those who currently live there? It appears they are taking up money to help the Adventist church members, but why can't the church extend the assistance to the current resents of SPA?

For those of you who were effected by these fires, your are in my thoughts and prayers.

Denyse Nation
Class of 1990
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Denyse (Carbajal) Nation, Class of 1990