As it turned out, it's a good thing I didn't 
go to the ONA October 25, 2003 reunion.  
You may have heard about the fires in 
California.  Well, on the day of the ONA
reunion, 10/25, we had the start of a 
really bad fire right here.  We live right 
at the base of the mountains.



We came very close to the possibility of 
losing our home in the fires. 
They spread to the North side of us and on 
the East side. Right behind our home is a 
great big open area, which is called the 
wash or flood control. You can't see it 
from our backyard because of trees and such
which act as a barrier.On the other side of 
the wash is where hundreds of homes burnt.  
John and I didn't know how close we came until 
we took a walk up on the wash a couple of days 
later and saw for ourselves.  

Then we drove up to 40th St. which is about 
8 blocks from here, and saw that the fire had
actually jumped the street and had started on 
our side of the wash. One of our neighbors 
from that area told me that there were about 
150 people watering down the homes and trees, 
etc. up there with hoses and running bucket 
brigades from pools putting out fires.  So, I 
really believe that these people saved us and 
our neighborhood.  It has been a very hot and
dry year, so if the fire had caught on our side, 
it would have just come up to our home and beyond.

The smoke and wind were very intense. Can't even 
describe it. We were told to evacuate. The police 
came through, door-to-door telling us we had to 
leave. Can't even begin to tell you what that felt 
like. What do you take? We loaded our cars, which 
included the animals, started down the street, and 
then decided to turn around and come back.  

Why,because they blocked all the surrounding streets 
so, once you were out, they wouldn't let you back in.  
We backed the cars in so we could make a hasty getaway 
if we felt in eminent danger.  (Now, remember, we had 
no idea it had gotten that close!) So, praise God 
because He protected us and our neighborhood.  
So, you see, if I had gone back for the reunion and 
then started hearing the news about what was happening 
back here, I probably would have been a wreck!

Greetings from Francesca