11-16-08 7:18 PM The sky above the Dawirs' house. Photo: Taylor Dawirs
Corona/Yorba Linda/Anaheim Hills (Triangle Complex Fire)
Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008 11:10 AM
I got an email from Doug and Marion that they were evacuated last night at 8 PM from their home in Yorba Linda. I managed to get a hold of them to ask them first hand about the fires and about their evacuation. This is a phone interview the morning after they are evacuated from their home.
Hello Doug, Marion. Where are you now?
We are at the Residence Inn in Anaheim Hills.
When and how were you evacuated?
Doug: Last night at 8 PM. The police cars came up the street and told everyone to get out within 15 minutes, then they went door to door.
Did you prepare for the evacuation?
Marion: My father had a fire in his house last week, so I know that you don't have to pack anything the insurance company will replace. Items such as clothes and furniture can be replaced. I started at 11 AM on Saturday to pack, I took the photos, important papers, and our Christmas ornaments, which are irreplaceable.
Doug: I had hiked up the hill earlier in the day to check on the fires and I knew that we needed to prepare, we had fires on three sides.
Did you take photos of your house and the contents before you left?
Marion: We went around and opened up all the closets and shot photos with our cell phones, pictures of the contents of the closets, cabinets and garage.
Have you seen your house? Do you know where the fire is?
Doug: From the news we know that the fire crews are north of our house. Our street is still closed up, so our daughter hiked up a horse trail and saw the house and it's still standing.
What were you feeling when you drove away from your home last night?
Marion: Horrible, even though from 11AM, I had been gathering and packing, when you are told you have 15 minutes to leave, you bounce around looking around your house looking for items to grab. It's a hopeless feeling. Your entire history is left up there. Your children's history. Our daughters have Hope Chests, and they are still up there because we couldn't lift them. Things that were important to them, that they had packed so carefully.
Doug: Surreal because of the wind pattern, we didn't experience any smoke or the smell of smoke. It was like Dante's Inferno, with the ash and people driving willy nilly to get out of the fire. A little bit of shock and then the inevitable traffic jam because there is only one road leading out of our area, and that was backed up causing a bit of panic. Really didn't feel any sense of loss yet, because I feel confident that the fire fighters will stop it before it gets to our house. We did a lot of brush clearance. That helps, but you never know because of the wind and the flames what will burn and what won't.
Was there a community effort to get people out?
Doug: People would've packed sooner if they had seen the progression of the fire. They were looking at the Carbon Canyon fire and not at the fire on the other side. I didn't see many people pack, it was really the last few minutes that we saw people pack. And by then it was too late to help anyone out. I learned that once you are out you can't get back in because once they lay the fire hoses down you cannot drive over them and you have to abandon your car.
Marion: During the afternoon I had a few neighbors looking at me packing, and we told them that we were packing as a precaution, because we were hemmed in by three fires. When the police were knocking on doors, most people just left without any possessions.
We prepare for earthquakes, should we also have a fire preparedness drill?
Doug: I feel strongly that there should be a community status website, like a webcam pointing at the fires, so that you can check online.
Marion: Earthquake preparedness is more about stockpiling, and getting quickly into a safe place; we should also have fire preparedness because we need to know what to take with you; medicines, important papers, knowing you should put all in one place so that you can grab it quickly. A fire is about fleeing at the last minute.
Do you know when you can go home?
Doug: The hotline is constantly busy, so we are in limbo now.
I will check in on Doug and Marion and will post a follow-up.
Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008 5:10pm
Doug and Marion are back home, safe and sound with their house intact.
Monday, Nov. 17, 2008 9:24 AM
Doug: We're a little shell-shocked. Ash and smoke still everywhere. Neighbors trickling back to their homes. Marion apprehensive that hots spot around us could get things going again. But, it's still nice to be home... and have a home to be in.
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008 12:32 PM
After surveying their home and the surrounding area, the Dawirs found no damage to their home, just the smell of smoke and a thick layer of ash. Their insurance company covered their incidental living expenses, which amounted to one night at a hotel and meals.
The Dawirs' insurance company was concerned about soot and ash damage. Ash and soot will cover the exterior and interior of a home, causing damage to family heirlooms, art, furniture and other irreplaceable possessions. Removing the soot is a job that needs a gentle hand or professional help. FEMA explains the process and how to get help with the clean up from a fire here.
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11-16-08 This is the hill behind the Dawir family's house.
11-16-08 The sky above the Dawirs' house.
11-15-08 The images below were shot on Saturday from the Dawirs' house.
Photos: Doug Dawirs / taken with an iPhone
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Smart people, at least they were paying attention to what was going on around them. It is too bad others missed that window of opportunity to pack up items that would be of personal value. Hopefully, everyone's house will still be standing when it is over.
It's a good lesson to all of us, we all live in a fire zone. With the dry weather and high winds we are all subject to the danger of fire. I have all my papers in one box, and other items in a fire proof safe. And those of us with pets have their needs to consider as well when it comes to packing.
Thank you Tracy for visiting and commenting! :O) ophelia
This posting really brings home the fear and uncertainty gripping so many of our friends and neighbors right now. Such a tragedy! Thanks to Doug and Marion for sharing their experience and please update what happens to them and their home.
We are all thankful that Doug and Marion are safe. I hope that what can be taken from this article is that we all need to be prepared for any disaster, because we are all vulnerable, and it just doesn't "happen to other people", it affects us all.
Thank you Michael for visiting and commenting! :O) ophelia
Just want to let them know I'm glad they're safe and have each other. My thoughts are with them. I've been seeing all the news about the fires out West but didn't realize just how bad the situation is until now.
Thank you Francesca. :O) Doug and Marion are back home, safe and sound.
So sad and scary. The fires have just been getting worse and worse lately. I'm glad they're safe, but still, it's sad all that's happened the last few days.
And Doug and Marion have a point. Earthquake preparedness is opposite of fire preparedness. One is "hunker down and wait" and the other is "flee the hills".
Hi Rachel,
What we could do to prepare for both, is to have a family evacuation plan, a common area for all our important papers, prescriptions in one area, and a small stockpile of water and canned goods. We don't need much, but enough to get by if the power is shut off.
Thanks for visiting and commenting. :O) Ophelia
So frightening. Much thanks to Doug and Marion for sharing (and Ophelia for bringing it to our attention).
I'm so relieved and happy to hear that Doug and Marion are safe! Please keep us posted on their situation.
Hello Emily,
We are almost clear of the smoke in Los Angeles. And hopefully the temperature will drop a bit more by tomorrow. It's been an especially warm November. Doug and Marion will be sending me updates and I will be posting. :O) Thanks so much for visiting and commenting.
Thank you all for your comments and well wishes. It feels so good to be home. The smell of damp smoke is everywhere but we are so relieved. I've learned so much during this experience. I am going to post an Evacuation List inside a closet so I don't need to waste precious time writing down what I think we need to take with us.
My biggest tip would be to scan all your photos. I filled several pillow cases with photo albums and lugged them around for a day. They were heavy!
My friend, Teresa, also had this tip: spread a big sheet out on the floor and toss the clothes you want to bring into the center; tie the ends hobo-style and put in the car. Do one bundle per family member. You can even throw in kids' stuffed animals.
Thanks again, everyone!
Dear Marion and Doug,
Thank you so much for letting us hear your story. We are happy that you are home safe and sound. :O) Ophelia
Dear Marion and Doug and Ophelia,
Suzanne forwarded your link to me and I am so glad she did. We are together in NYC this week, and so glad that you are back safe and sound. Yervant sends fondest regards from Chicago. May the days ahead be calmer, looking forward to seeing you again soon!
Love,
Linda