Editor's note: As of press time, the author of this report, one of thousands evacuated because of the fires, did not know the status of her home, which firefighters said might have been destroyed. At the time she wrote this report, she was at Qualcomm Stadium, working as the media specialist for the Church's San Diego County regional public affairs committee.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Nearly four years ago to the date, wildfires ravaged wide-ranging residential communities throughout San Diego. The Cedar and Paradise fires they caused the worst damage in the history of San Diego and California.
Now, dazed and disbelieving residents can hardly cope with the devastation that has revisited nearly every community in both the city and county of San Diego. This time around, the Harris Fires and the Witch Creek Fires, along with innumerable additional fires, have scorched almost a third of the total San Diego Region. The Office of Emergency Services and various community leaders now call the Paradise and Cedar Fires a "walk in the park" in comparison to the new fire disaster visited upon San Diego residents.
The wildfires are part of 17 separate fires burning across seven counties in Southern California; in total at least 460,000 acres — about 719 square miles — have been burned in a broad arc from Ventura County north of Los Angeles east to the San Bernardino National Forest and south to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Losses from the fires total at least $1 billion in San Diego County alone.
In total, more than 750,000 people have been evacuated and displaced by the fires — the largest evacuation operation in San Diego history. An estimated 2,000 homes have burned, with the actual count uncertain due to swaths of fierce flames and heavy smoke which obscure accurate counts.
Virtually every school district including all elementary, middle and high schools closed. Every college and university cancelled classes. Mail service was suspended in many areas of San Diego. Some malls and shopping centers closed. Internet connections fluctuated. Cell phone connections were unreliable and power outages were daily occurrences. Qualcomm Stadium sheltered more than 30,000 people as a major evacuation center. The Del Mar Fairgrounds in the northern section of the county served as a refuge for North County residents
The Church's response to these emergencies was remarkably swift, timely and well ahead of most first responders and emergency services. Four truckloads of relief supplies, including pallets of non-perishable food, water, 10,000 blankets, cots, and 11,000 hygiene kits were provided to evacuees at Qualcomm Stadium, the Del Mar Fairgrounds, and other evacuee shelters.
A second wave of supplies included thousands of cleaning kits, sent to help victims as they return to their smoke-damaged homes.
Despite personal hardships, the Church members' response was heroic and selfless. Hundreds of members opened their homes to give refuge to evacuee families. Thousands more have offered to help with cleaning efforts. Twelve meetinghouses were used as temporary shelters; the Escondido California South Stake Center was used as temporary headquarters for the California National Guard. Relief Society sisters prepared food night and day for residents of these temporary shelters. In several locations, occupants were moved from one meetinghouse to another as mandatory evacuation areas have expanded.
Representatives from LDS Family Services are working with local priesthood leaders to provide counseling. Relief Societies served food to members and others who sought refuge at stake centers and ward buildings.
The San Diego Mayor's office responded with gratitude and thanksgiving. Jenny Worth, director of Corporate Partnership Programs for the City of San Diego, commented, "We are overwhelmingly grateful for the show of support from the LDS Church. Thank you for stepping so quickly to make a difference in this time of extreme disaster."
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