Efforts made to reach out to wildfire refugees; one church is lost

Published: 2007-10-25

SAN DIEGO (CNS) -- As the fierce Santa Ana winds abated, giving firefighters a chance to make headway on wildfires that have scorched more than 400,000 acres in Southern California, Catholic groups and other relief agencies likewise took the opportunity to make headway in helping those fleeing the flames. Fire losses were expected to top $1 billion. Catholic Charities agencies in four California dioceses have been helping evacuees find shelter and comfort. Despite the scope of the blazes, which had destroyed more than 1,500 homes and caused the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Southern California residents, there was relatively little personal injury. One fire-related death had been confirmed through Oct. 24, with 21 injuries attributed to the wildfires. Smoke-choked air and power outages continued to hamper those living through the ordeal. St. Bartholomew Church, a mission church on the Rincon Reservation, and several homes on the reservation were destroyed in one of the fires, according to Bo Mazzetti, a councilman for the Luiseno tribe on the reservation. He told the San Diego Union-Tribune daily newspaper the loss of the church was a spiritual blow to the tribe. "That's something we've all attended, that church. It's devastating to see that," Mazzetti said.

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