ESCONDIDO: Families remember Witch Creek fire

Survivors gather at Kit Carson Park

By RENEE RAMSEY - For the North County Times | Saturday, October 25, 2008 5:49 PM PDT ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- Dozens of families of Witch Creek wildfire survivors, firefighters and community volunteers met at an Escondido park Saturday to remember the October 2007 disaster.

"Even with great loss can come great hope," said Brian Willey, board chairman of Rebuild Escondido, one of six San Diego County long-term recovery centers for families affected by the 2007 Witch Creek and Harris fires.

Escondido fire Division Chief Mike Lowry, who will become the city' s next fire chief Dec. 1, told the more than 100 people attending the event at Kit Carson Park that the park itself played a role in the fire.

Food, fundraising booths and bounce houses for the children were brought to the park Saturday for an event that also featured a color guard and fly-over by a county rescue helicopter.

"A year ago, Kit Carson Park was the Witch Creek fire camp," Lowry said.

He was referring to the park's temporary use by firefighters from around the state as a base camp for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CalFire.

Following a welcoming prayer, organizers called for a moment of silence for the 10 people who died in the 2007 fires.

A series of thank-you speeches to volunteers, police and firefighters became a reunion, too.

Escondido firefighter Mike O'Connor warmly greeted Joan Roessel of Escondido, whose house he and fellow firefighters were unable to save during the Witch Creek fire.

Still, they kept in touch over the last year, O'Connor said, "and we've had her over to the firehouse."

Arthur and Averill McCullough of Escondido were one of 22 families to add their names to a sign-up list for those at the event who had been directly affected by the fire.

"We're one of the few in our age bracket to rebuild. It's too much stress on most people our age," said Arthur McCullough. The two are in their 70s, he said.

Of the more than 1,000 homes destroyed, only one has been rebuilt a year later, Willey of Rebuild Escondido said.

Many families still are negotiating with insurance companies, he said.

"Some are living with family members, some folks are renting, and others decided not to rebuild," Willey said.

Roessel of Escondido, a retired bookkeeper now renting a home in Rancho Bernardo, said she still has not decided whether she will move back into her house, once it is rebuilt.

"If I can, I'll probably sell it," Roessel said. "I'm in limbo." Marla Cruz, director of disaster services at Escondido-based Interfaith Community Services, said many families who lost their homes still are struggling.

"They're rebuilding. They're struggling with insurance companies. They're not in their homes. They're still mentally recovering," she said.

"Let's pray to God it doesn't happen again," Cruz said.