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Modjeska Canyon Returns
The Santiago fire (October 2007), lasted 2� weeks, destroyed 15 homes in Modjeska Canyon and damaged many others.
The canyons of the Santa Ana Mountains are filled with people who love each other and love living in a place where nature is deeply respected. That place can also be risky during fire season and mudslide season.
During the recent fires, 4,100 people and 2,800 homes were evacuated. Almost 2,000 firefighters were involved at the height of the fire fighting effort, at a cost of almost $20 million. Many firefighters and others who stepped forward risked their lives to help protect residents and save as much as they could. More than 28,400 acres burned, some of it old growth forest that has not burned for 100-200 years. Some of the forest is still burning.
15 homes were destroyed in Modjeska Canyon, and a number of other homes and out-buildings were damaged, estimated at $10 million. Fortunately, no lives were lost and only minor injuries occurred.
Now that the fires are contained (though not yet fully controlled), it's time for rebuilding and raising money to help those who need help. The canyon residents know that their lives depend on their neighbors and the volunteers of the Modjeska Canyon fire department, and are willing to help each other whenever necessary. This is a place where True Community is a daily way of life.
If
you would like to help, there are many ways to do so:
- Donate to the Santiago Fire Recovery effort
(*) via PayPal
.
http://www.intercanyon.org/feature/santiago.fire.htm.
Flyer http://www.intercanyon.org/e-pubs/pdf/icl.2007.nr.0507-01dj.pdf - About the Inter Canyon League http://www.intercanyon.org/content/f.icl,0.htm
- Checks or gifts may be sent to:
-
ICL Santiago Fire Relief Fund
P.O. Box 301
Silverado, CA 92676
-
- Plant Modjeska is an effort to help restore the landscape damaged by the fire. The website contains first person accounts of people affected by the fires. http://www.plantmodjeska.org.
Fund-raiser
& concert on Nov. 17, 2007
that included support for the many volunteer firefighters who worked so hard to protect the canyons. http://www.canyonlife.com/events.folder/FireReliefConcert.html.
Story: http://www.ocregister.com/news/canyon-fire-silverado-1924911-community-neighbors - $1
million donation made by Kane
Ranch http://www.ocregister.com/news/johnson-homes-beasley-1922738-million-fire
- A $250,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the person responsible for starting the fire. Anyone with information is asked to call the OCFA Arson Tip Line at (800) 540-8282.
- If you can't provide financial help, please keep everyone in your prayers as we approach the rainy season and mudslide potential from the newly bare hills that surround the canyons. Inspiration http://www.lightmovie.com/
(*) The Santiago Fire Recovery Effort is part of the Inter-Canyon League, a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the canyon�s unique way of life. The ICL was created after the 1969 disaster, when a mudslide killed 11 people sheltered at the Silverado volunteer fire station after 18 inches of rain in 72 hours flooded the canyon. Because the ICL is a 501(c)3 organization, all contributions are tax deductible.
Related
information:
- The Orange County Register newspaper has done an incredible job of keeping people informed. http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sections/news/firecentral/
- Historic Arden ("Modjeska House"), the former home of Shakespearean actress Helena Modjeska, was spared from fire damage. http://www.ocparks.com/modjeskahouse/
- The canyons are within the Cleveland National Forest http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland/
- Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary http://campusapps.fullerton.edu/news/Inside/2007/tucker_fire.html and http://campusapps.fullerton.edu/news/Inside/2007/gilchrist.html
- Photos of the sanctuary and surrounding areas now http://biology.fullerton.edu/scerp/Tucker/AnnotatedMap.html
- Canyon Life - local news and information http://www.canyonlife.com
- Orange County Fire Authority - Santiago Fire status http://www.ocfa.org/pages/ocfa.asp?filename=canyonfire.asp
Photos from the Orange County Register:
Modjeska Canyon home of saved for the 2nd time by following good fire
prevention techniques (Oct 2007). The burned area used to be vibrant
natural terrain.
The home of Jim and Diane Carter did not fare
as well. Here's a "before" picture:
... and after the fires - completely burned down - in
spite of following good fire prevention techniques:
This page is http://www.itstime.com/modjeskareturns.htm
Page updated: May 11, 2023
