CU students on edge as their hometowns burn
The fires that are torching acres of land in California have had a profound affect to the many at CU who call California home.
For Ben Palin, a sophomore architectural engineering major, living at CU while watching his home state of California burn has been difficult.
“I got a call from one of my friends last Sunday night and he was like ‘Yeah, the city’s on fire again,'” Palin said.
Palin’s California home is just outside of San Diego, in a town called Rancho Peñasquitos.
California firefighters began evacuating people near Palin’s house around Oct. 21.
“We live just south of the freeway,” Palin said. “They evacuated everyone north of the freeway and so my parents evacuated too just to be safe.”
Though Palin’s parents were not under mandatory evacuation, they chose to leave their home and go to his grandmother’s house near the coast.
“They called and said, ‘Hey, we’re evacuating. Do you want us to grab anything of yours?'” Palin said. “It was a bit intense.”
Palin said that the 2007 wildfires are just another horrible repeat of the 2003 and 2004 wildfires. Though Palin’s family did not evacuate then, Palin said that the experience was still difficult.
“This time has been easier because I kind of already experienced it,” Palin said.
Having gone through the experience of fires before, Palin said that it is not as bad this time around. However, he also said that he wishes he could have been with his family during the recent fires.
“I definitely wouldn’t say that I was glad to be here in Colorado while my state was on fire,” Palin said. “I really wanted to be with my family.”
Palin said he was worried both about his family and about friends who are still in California.
“It was pretty emotional at times,” he said.
Palin’s parents returned to their house in the middle of last week. Their home did not suffer any damage from the fire.
“I was very relieved,” Palin said.
Palin will return home to California in December to visit his family.
Alex Williams, a freshman management major, said he also finds it awkward to be in Colorado while wildfires remain active near his home in southern California.
“It is kind of strange that people are being evacuated from a state I just left from,” Williams said.
William’s family resides in the small town of Rancho Mirage, located within the Coachella Valley two hours outside of San Diego.
“My town is basically located in the middle of all the fire,” Williams said, “It’s currently filled with smoke and smog.”
While Rancho Mirage is located within close proximity to the wildfires, Williams said his house is not at any risk.
“Rancho Mirage is located in the desert and there’s not a whole lot of shrubbery that could fuel a fire,” Williams said.
William’s home might not be in direct contact with the wildfires, yet Williams said that his family is very much affected and very much involved. His family has decided to provide shelter to a mother and her children who lost their home in the wildfire.
“We are giving them a place to stay until another option comes along,” Williams said.
William’s family, along with many other families, volunteered to open their homes through their church, St. Margaret’s Episcopal. Williams said that his family’s intention was help the community and the people who had unfortunate outcomes with the wildfires.
“If my house burned down, I’d like to think that there is someone who would be willing to help me out,” Williams said.
Williams plans to return to California for Thanksgiving break when he will meet the family his family took in for the first time.
“I think having another family will be different, but it’ll probably be a nice addition to Thanksgiving dinner,” Williams said.
Calvin Curtin, a sophomore open-option major, is from in the San Fernando Valley, about 30 miles away from the inferno. He has had some contact with a friend who is living in California during these tumultuous times.
“My friend who was out here this weekend says it’s really hard to breathe outside because of the smoke,” Curtin said.
Curtin said that the fire does personally not affect him since fire retardant was used around the Los Angeles area. Yet, he still feels strongly about the whole situation.
“There should be better precautions to avoid these situations,” Curtin said. “This happens every year.”
Contact Campus Press Staff Writers Sara Fossum, Aaron Musick and Katherine Spencer at sara.fossum@thecampuspress.com, aaron.musick@thecampuspress.com, katherine.spencer@thecampuspress.com
