Conference quark::human_relations-v1

1031.0. "Thoughts and prayers for fire victims" by LAGUNA::DERY_CH () Thu Jun 28 1990 17:22

    
    I work in the Santa Barbara, CA office.  Due to an arsonist,
    Santa Barbara is currently in a state of emergency.  Last
    nite at 6:00 a fire was set in one of the canyons just
    outside of the city.  We have been experiencing severe
    drought conditions for the past 4 years, so the fire quickly
    spread.  At this time, 300 homes have burned to the ground,
    hundreds of families are homeless, loved ones have been
    separated, pets and ranch animals are lost or have died
    in the fire.  The city is in a state of shock, to say the
    least.  There are also many other fires that have broken out
    around southern California and Arizona.  My purpose for entering
    this note is to ask all of you to keep these victims in mind
    and please think good thoughts.  There hasn't been any reports
    of fatalities so far in Santa Barbara.  To my knowledge, the 
    arsonist has not been caught.  The fire is almost contained,
    but far from completely out.
    
    The Santa Barbara DEC facility was not involved in the fire
    at all as we are on the opposite side of town.  
    
    Please remember the victims of all these needless tragedies 
    and their loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.
    
    Cherie                      

    
    Cherie
    
    
    Has there been any further word on this? I haven't heard anything
    over this past weekend.

    There were three major brushfires in southern California last week;
    winds have died down finally, and while the burning hasn't stopped,
    firefighters do think they've got it all under control.  Several lives
    were lost, and property damages are expected to exceed $500M.  Two
    counties have been declared by the state as disaster areas, and Santa
    Barbara will probably also be so declared by the Feds.  
    
    DougO

    
    They expect to have the fire contained today.  They are reporting
    that 450 homes have been lost, 20 apartment complexes and about 20
    businesses due to the Santa Barbara fire.  One woman lost her life.
    Santa Barbara county has been declared a disaster area and will
    receive state of emergency assistance.
    
    Cherie