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From : Lila Hayes
Sent : October 26, 2005
Subject : OFRG weekly update

Thank you!

Our last meeting was a great success. Although we were only able to tour two homes, we had a fun time fellowshipping with other fire survivors and local government representatives. We even had a representative from our local state senator, Nell Soto, who presented a declaration commending the Old Fire Recovery Group.

I also want to thank those who got together to give me a special thank you! You all have been wonderful!

Although our meetings have officially ended, we are not opposed to getting together again! Please let us know when and were, and I'll put it in our newsletter and we'll be there! I know I'm looking forward to having an open house for my mom's house when it's complete.

Thanks for everything!

Lila Hayes
Old Fire Recovery Group
www.oldfirerecoverygroup.org
909-266-1459 vm/fax

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Index

1. Fellow Survivor Needs Your Help!!!

2. Interesting Factoid about the Panorama Fire

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In The News

1. Old Fire victims cheer progress, 10/26/2005, San Bernardino County Sun
2. Hillside homes built, rebuilt in ace of fire threat, 10/24/2005, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
3. New life from the flames, 10/26/2005, San Bernardino County Sun
4. Not out of the woods yet, 10/26/2005, San Bernardino County Sun
5. Second time around in burn areas, 10/26/2005, San Bernardino County Sun
a link to The San Diego paper which has many stories from the San Diego area

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1. Fellow Survivor Needs Your Help!!!

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I had an elderly, disabled Old Fire victim call me to say she had to be out of her house by the end of the month (yes 4 days). She has been looking for a place to move, but has been unsuccessful. Her insurance company stopped paying the rent and the owner wants to start on a new project with the property. I have called her landlord to try to buy her another couple of weeks, but he refuses. At this point she is considering placing her things in storage and staying with friends or in a motel to avoid eviction proceedings.

If there is anyone out there who could help her A) find a place which accepts small dogs or B) volunteers to help her pack, please respond ASAP so we can coordinate.

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2. Interesting Factoid about the Panorama Fire

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As posted at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SanBernardinoNF/

Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:05:14 -0700
From: John Miller <jmiller02@fs.fed.us>
Subject: "Very High" Fire Restrictions to remain

Fire Restrictions and danger level will remain at "Very High" despite
recent rainfall.

1. Grass crop will dry out in 2-3 days of 80-90 degree heat

2. Chaparral will not show effects of this storm until January or February

3. Rainfall has been inconsistent throughout the forest, anywhere from .4" to 1.5"

4. Wind events expected

History factoid, In 1980, two weeks prior to the Panorama Fire, the
forest experienced 5" of rain and 2-4" of snow.

John Miller
Public Affairs / Fire Information
San Bernardino National Forest
28104 State Highway 18 / P.O. Box 350
Skyforest, CA 92385
Office (909) 382-2788
Email: jmiller02@fs.fed.us

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In The News

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1. Old Fire victims cheer progress
10/26/2005
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
San Bernardino County Sun

SAN BERNARDINO Charlotte Crandall was a little more than a year shy of her 40th year in her Modesto Drive home when 2003's Old Fire swept through her Del Rosa neighborhood and destroyed it.

Insurance adjustors weren't the first thing on her mind at the time, but sooner or later she knew she would have to deal with them.

[more HERE]
http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_3143244

2. Hillside homes built, rebuilt in ace of fire threat

10/24/2005

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Two years after the Grand Prix and Old fires, the phoenix clearly has risen from the ashes. About as many homes have been rebuilt or approved in burned areas and state-designated fire zones as were destroyed by the flames.

More than 230 homes have been built on the exact same plots in north San Bernardino that were blackened the Old Fire. Most victims of the out-of-control blazes have moved on with their lives, though many are still grappling with insurance and other rebuilding problems.

[more HERE]

http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_3147468

3. New life from the flames
Sculpture celebrates comeback from 2003 firestorm
10/26/2005

Selicia Kennedy-Ross, Staff Writer
San Bernardino County Sun

SAN BERNARDINO -- Phoenix rising from the ashes has long been a symbol of rebirth, and to artist Patrick Jewett it is the perfect inspirational metaphor for a place that has risen from the embers of the Old Fire.

Jewett, 37, has finished a 6-foot bronze sculpture that depicts the mythical bird rising out of swirling flames.

[more HERE]

http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_3143266

4. Not out of the woods yet
10/26/2005
Andrew Silva, Staff Writer
San Bernardino County Sun

Once hidden by a lush, dense forest, houses are now visible on the ridgeline above Lake Arrowhead, giving some the impression that development has accelerated.

The homes can be seen because the trees that hid them have been cut down as part of a multiyear program to remove the thousands killed by drought, overstocking and bark beetles.

[more HERE]
http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_3143127

5. Second time around in burn areas
Ravaged homes being replaced

10/26/2005
Guy McCarthy, Staff Writer
San Bernardino County Sun

The week of firestorms that swept across Inland Empire mountains and foothills two years ago reduced 1,000 homes to ashes.

But memories of their hellish fury have failed to deter new and longtime residents from building and rebuilding homes in the burned areas.

[more HERE]

http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_3143114

Here are many two year anniversary stories on the fires in San Diego

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/fires/

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Old Fire Recovery Group
www.oldfirerecoverygroup.org
909-266-1459 vm/fax