Jesusita Fire

As one relative said "the Bohman family just escaped a total disaster." We left Santa Barbara on Sunday. By Tuesday, May 5, the horrible Jesusita Fire had begun in Santa Barbara. I received a call on Wednesday at 9pm that someone said Grandma and Grandpa's house had burned down. A half hour later, I was told we didn't know for sure, but it looked like the stables in the canyon had been burned. It was a long night.

That night (Wednesday)five fire trucks with crews fought off the fire from the driveway. They made my cousin Jason leave, but he had started the sprinklers and done everything in his power to help. He plead with the firefighters to save the house. They told him they were going to do everything in their power to save the house; Grandma and Grandpa (with Jason's help) did everything right as far as fire prevention on the property.

We were relieved to find out on Thursday that the house was still standing, despite the fire in the adjacent canyon. They let Grandpa on the property (to pick up his medicine) and he confirmed that the house was good, but the fire came within 15-20 feet from the house. We were all rejoicing in the wonderful news! The house we (the grandchildren) grew up in was saved!!

Friday morning brought horrible news. The fire had picked up and started coming from the other direction. Great Aunt Marian's house didn't make it. Their house is on the adjacent piece of property from Grandma and Grandpa's. The family in Santa Barbara watched the house burn down on TV. It was gone. Nobody was sure about Grandma and Grandpa's house. Our hearts went out to the Koonces. We waited nearly 48 hours to confirm the status of Grandma and Grandpa's house. Again we rejoiced that the house survived, but it was bitter-sweet, knowing Aunt Marian's did not.

My cousin reported, "the house was like an island with smoke on every side." Once the smoke had settled and family could see things, my aunt said, "it's like a volcano went off, but Grandma and Grandpa's house is like a little green oasis in the middle." The fire came from both directions. It truly is a miracle that the house only received some smoke and soot damage. Once again, we are counting our blessings!