Help comes from those who know

Just as we readied to remember the fire 10 years ago and stories were

being re-told about how homes and lives were rebuilt, images of a

whole new inferno came into view.

This time there were several, all over Southern California, every

county but ours. This time we watched from a distance as thousands

left their homes filled with fear.

The sickening sight of not just your home but your whole community

up in flames is something Lagunans understand. While the fires still

raged members from our community who took part in rebuilding the city

10 years ago traveled to the fire ravaged areas to do something many

well-meaning and admirable organizations could not, they gave

first-hand advice on what to do next.

Ken Frank, Ed Sauls, David Horne, John Pietig, Terry Brandt and

Wade Brown met with San Bernardino officials and gave them insight

and a booklet that was created after the Laguna fire. The booklet

focuses on what officials and crisis counselors learned here about

coping with the immediate and long-term effects of the fire. The

problem is the book is out of print. There is great desire to

distribute this book to all who could benefit from it, but no funds

to print it. Excerpts are being put on Web site

https://wwwfiresafecouncil.org.

Then, with the threat from fire faded and the reality of the long

journey of rebuilding in front of many residents, the people of

Laguna jumped full force into donation drives of everything from cash

to cribs.

The Woman’s Club postponed its auction in order to provide a

drop-off site; Laguna Beach Self-Storage has offered free space;

Psych Support offered its services; and individuals, affected by the

Laguna fire or not, gathered their goods and gave.

To find out how to help call resource center outreach director

Debbie Cortez at (949) 497-7121 or chamber contact Lilly at (949)

494-1018, ext. 1.

It’s not exactly surprising, it’s just heartening to see that

still, and even when it’s happening in a far away city, people will

give their time, money and possessions to help those in need.