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

Published: 2007-10-29

SAN DIEGO (CNS) -- As the fierce Santa Ana winds abated, giving firefighters a chance to make headway on wildfires that have scorched more than 500,000 acres in Southern California, Catholic groups and other relief agencies likewise took the opportunity to make headway in helping those fleeing the flames. Catholic Charities agencies in four California dioceses have been helping evacuees find shelter and comfort. Despite the scope of the blazes, which destroyed 2,767 structures -- including more than 2,000 homes -- and caused the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Southern California residents, there was relatively little personal injury. Three fire-related deaths had been confirmed through Oct. 26, with 21 injuries attributed to the wildfires. Smoke-choked air and power outages continued to hamper those living through the ordeal. An Associated Press story said four charred bodies were discovered by Border Patrol agents at a migrant camp east of San Diego near the Mexican border, but officials had not yet determined if they died in one of the fires. By Oct. 23, more than 900,000 people had been evacuated from their homes. Two days later news reports said many evacuees were being allowed to return to their neighborhoods to see what had become of their homes. Property damage in San Diego County alone reportedly has surpassed $1 billion. 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.

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