San Diego Fires
Anderson works with Governor in bringing fire-fighting resources on line.
Excerpted comments by Assemblyman Joel Anderson
Wednesday, October 24, 2007, Steele Canyon School Evacuation Center, Spring valley
I want to thank the Governor first off. I lived through the 2003 Cedar Fire, I live in Harbison Canyon, and it just devastated my neighborhood. And what a difference it is this time. A governor who immediately moved on the issue right away, declared an emergency, and brought resources to our community. Governor, thank you so much for doing that. Just absolutely fantastic.
I also want to thank the firefighters, because they are just doing a phenomenal job. Earlier this morning we were delivering food to this facility, and this hill behind you was ablaze in flames, yet they were able to put the fires out and allow us to deliver food to this facility. And SteeleCanyon is still open today, while yesterday people were contemplating whether they should close it or not.
And I also want to thank all the other volunteers, but in particular I'd like to thank the City of La Mesa. Here's a city in the middle of my district who isn't war torn at all by the fires, but the City Council got together and said that they wanted to do something. So yesterday they organized a huge food bank, and in their Community Center they had over 300 people show up, make sandwiches, put it all in a truck, truck it over here at 5:00 in the morning, and then later came back with dinner. So there are a lot of people who are just rising to the occasion. And when you're thinking about the spirit of man, we certainly are rising to that occasion here and now.
And I want to say right now for all the people at Steele Canyon, and all the other people in my district, next week we're going to continue to work as hard as we do this week. And the month after that we'll continue to work hard, and we're not going to stop until we get everybody back in their homes.
Local Assistance Centers
Local Assistance Centers provide disaster victims with one-stop assistance from a variety of government agencies, businesses, and charities.
1. City of San Diego
Rancho Bernardo-Glassman Recreation Center
18448 W. Bernardo Drive
San Diego, CA 92127
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m
2. Ramona Community School
1710 Montecito Road
Ramona, CA 92065
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m
3. Fallbrook Community Center
341 Heald Lane
Fallbrook, CA 92028
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m
4. Rancho San Diego-Cuyamaca College
900 Rancho San Diego Parkway
El Cajon, CA 92109
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
5. Activities Center
George A. Caravalho Santa Clarita Sports Complex
20880 Centre Pointe Parkway
Santa Clarita, CA 91350
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m
6. Malibu Bluff's Park
24250 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Malibu, CA 90265
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m
7. Castaic Regional Sports Complex
31230 North Castaic Road
Castaic, CA 91384
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m
8. One Stop Center / Strip Mall
125 Technology Drive West, Suite 200
Irvine, CA
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
9. Orange Show Fairgrounds
Dome Building
689 South "E" Street
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
10. Fallbrook Community Center
341 Heald Lane
Fallbrook, CA 92028
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m
Please click here for more information and updates on the Local Assistance Centers.
Key Contacts for Rebuilding
Insurance Contacts:
State Farm: 1-800-732-5246
Allstate: 1-800-547-8676
Farmers Insurance Group: 1-800-435-7764
Allied Insurance: 1-800-388-9963
Nationwide: 1-800-552-2160
Housing Contact:
San Diego County Apartment Association: 1-858- 278-8070
Important Links:
Fire Maps
San Diego Red Cross
Red Cross Disastersafe
Insurance Resources (PDF File)
Calfires
State OES
SD County Fire Emergency
FEMA
People Making a Difference
In an effort to relieve the tragic effects of the wildfires, Assemblyman Joel Anderson and his staff have teamed up with local communities looking for ways to provide assistance. With the generosity and cooperation of fellow citizens from all over the County, crises have been averted and great deeds have been accomplished.
These are but a few of the stories of caring neighbors and generous strangers who have made a difference in communities suffering from the fires.
Hilliker's Egg Ranch to the rescue
La Mesans Make 19,000+ Meals for Evacuees
Responding to the escalating needs of the evacuees at Steele Canyon High School and without being asked, La Mesa Kiwanian Oscar Knight and the Kiwanis Key Club along with Mayor Art Madrid and the La Mesa City Council, organized a Meals & Supplies project for Evacuees at Steele Canyon.
Starting At 2:30 AM on Wednesday, volunteers began making hundreds of meals at the La Mesa Community Center. Unfortunately, they didn't have any way to refrigerate or deliver the meals.
Local Lakeside Water Board Director Frank Hilliker was contacted for suggestions on how to solve their looming problem. Frank didn't miss a beat and donated one of the Hilliker's Ranch Fresh Eggs refrigeration trucks and volunteered to personally deliver the food and supplies. In one bold move he solved both their storage & delivery problem. As Frank put it ''I couldn't let all their hard work spoil. People are counting on this food and supplies.''
Much to the delight of the evacuees and staff, Kiwanian and La Mesan generosity arrived at 5am as promised in the form of much needed toys, clothes, supplies and hot breakfast meals via Frank and Hilliker's Ranch Fresh Eggs truck.
To date, their efforts have delivered over 19,000 meals to people in need – you're the best!
Scott Parry of Buck Petroleum to the rescue
Mission Valley Tanker Saves Potrero Fire Command Center
On Wednesday, October 24th, as the Harris Fire surrounded the scorched community of Potrero, its Fire Command Center was running out of the diesel fuel needed to operate its electricity generators. No one had supplied them in days and they didn't have enough fuel to make it through another night. Pleas of help were sent out as people scrambled to solve the problem.
Buck Petroleum President/CEO Scott Parry learned of Potrero's dire straights at the end of the day when employees start to think about heading home for the night. Mr. Parry came to the rescue by agreeing to dispatch a last minute tanker full of donated diesel from his Mission Valley storage yard.
With the help of an official CHP escort through the well barricaded active fire zone, the precious diesel arrived in time to keep the command center operating. Kudos to Scott Parry for a job well done!
Late Night Food Delivery To Campo & Potrero Residents
Due to its proximity to the Harris Fire, over 200 evacuees were housed at the Red Cross operated evacuation center in Campo. The evacuees were in desperate need of additional supplies and food and were surprised to see the late night caravan arrive into their camp after 10pm.
Earlier that day Casey Gwinn learned of needs of these two remote East County communities and worked all day to find the donations. And with help of Bonnie Stone from the Salvation Army and Billy Lopez from Budget Electric, they organized a odd caravan of vehicles, which included a trailer, truck, motorhome, and plenty of cars. By the time everyone rallied to leave El Cajon it was already after 8pm. but the supplies had to roll.
"Red", the manager of the Red Cross Campo shelter met this enthusiastic caravan of volunteers & supplies with open arms.
Once the Campo supplies were offloaded, the caravan met up with a Sheriff's Department escort car. Casey encouragingly remarked ''Although Potrero is in an active burn zone and closed to the non-emergency vehicles, we can make it with our Sheriff escort.''
Despite the late hour, all the volunteers agreed to forge on and try to deliver the supplies to the 60+ families that were believed stuck there.
As the caravan weaved it's way through the fire zone Firefighters, Border Patrol Agents, and Sheriffs were greeted with care packages of food. Many of these first responders had not taken a break to eat since early that morning due to the rigors of the fire. Many of them were from out of town and they quickly learned how grateful San Diegans were to have them working in our community.
The caravan rolled into the Potrero Fire Station just after 2am. The Command center manager, Brenda Weiss, was greatly relieved and thankful on behalf of the residents. She also mentioned her delight to see Buck Petroleum earlier in the evening.
Thank you to all the members of this impromptu caravan of volunteers who decided to make a difference in East County lives!
Be sure to thank your neighbors because community heroes come from all walks of life.
Please help us recognize the generosity and kindness in our community by emailing any stories you have to us at Assemblymember.Anderson@assembly.ca.gov