Santa Anas whip brush fire
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FALLBROOK, Calif. — A raging brush fire whipped by Santa Ana winds burned nearly 6,000 acres and destroyed more than 40 structures, including the homes of two member families, and severely damaged a third home in this rural Southern California community. The fire burned a neighborhood of exclusive ranch homes and avocado groves.
As the fire approached the city about the time Church meetings were to start on Sunday, Feb. 10, said Bishop Carl J. Hampton of the Fallbrook 1st Ward, Vista California Stake, "We had already sent out most of the priesthood brethren to make sure the families on the perimeter were OK. By 5 p.m. we had accounted for all but two families — the two in the hot spots surrounded by fire. Later that evening we were able to get to those."
He said the owner of one of the homes was away when the fire came and the other family was evacuated without injury. "We evacuated 10 other families and did provide housing for a couple of families, but most went back to their homes that evening."
Two members of the bishopric are experienced firefighters; from their suggestions, a command post was set up at the meetinghouse where priesthood holders accounting for the families communicated with cell phones, he said.
After the fire was extinguished, the ward and missionaries from the California Carlsbad Mission volunteered on many service projects to help the community clean up the burned areas and rebuild.
