Platform : Fires: ‘Grab the Animals and Kids and Leave the Rest’

If you had to flee your home suddenly, what would you take? Many Southern Californians are asking themselves that question now. Below is a sampling of views from area residents.

ANDY DOTSON

Furniture mover, 30, Sierra Madre

I live in the farthest house in the back of the canyon and I left Wednesday night. I took our two daughters and my fiancee, dogs and cat, my engagement ring. We took a couple of other things like the TV and all my CDs and tapes that I have collected over the years.

We had five minutes to get out of there. I was in Oakland and my fiancee called early in the morning and I caught the first plane back. My two daughters and fiancee had everything out of the out the house when I got home at 11 o’clock.

We took some suitcases that belonged to my mother that had a bunch of photographs. We took doctor forms, stuff like that. I went back to get my security blanket that I’ve had since I was a kid. I had to go back to get that.

My daughters, they’re 10 and 7, took their little trophies and a couple of games.

Personally, I think that’s the stuff that’s been with us the most. Our family life is more important than material things.

At the (Red Cross) shelter, everybody had the same feeling: Grab the animals and kids and leave the rest. We’re all sticking together. It’s nice to have that bonding.

SERGIO LELEVIER

Videotape editor, 46, Sierra Madre

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I live in the upper canyon of Sierra Madre and flames came close to my house. I was told to move out but I saw that the flames were pretty close to the house and I sneaked back in.

I stayed because I felt I just had to be in the house. My wife and I took a lot of stuff (the night before) after we made a list of what we wanted. Then we made our decision that we would leave. We packed up both cars and went to a friend’s house and put our stuff in his garage. Then we made a second trip and I stayed but my wife left.

We took all important papers, insurance, our passports, birth certificates, tax returns, computer, my wife’s expensive clothes, my only suit. My son took his guitar and stereo. We took the TV set, VCR and lots of photographs.

LAURA HAYES

Homemaker, 38, Irvine

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Of course, things like baby pictures, some letters that belonged to my grandmother, insurance papers, are some of the things (I grabbed) first. But my husband was also packing these mugs he got in Germany. I thought it was kind of funny. And my children were taking things like stuffed animals or clothes they would never wear. Then there was my 15-year-old son, who packed his school books.

HELEN HALAPOFF

Retired, 73, Tustin

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The living things come first. We had a horse and other animals that had to be taken care of. We had to take the horse down to the beach. After the animals were taken care of, we started to pack the cars with the things I knew couldn’t be replaced. The pictures of the kids, important documents and other things. You can always replace the furniture, the TV or all those things like that. You can even replace a house, but some things are priceless. It’s not easy when you have to pick and choose.

MARY SULLIVAN

Restaurant owner, Ojai

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I took the neighbor’s baby (who I was baby-sitting). I just wanted to get it out of here. I grabbed a few things (but) I didn’t have time to think of anything.

I lived here during the ’85 fire too. It burned a little more around me this time. I couldn’t believe it. The good Lord saved me. My restaurant and house are all right.

I grabbed a few clothes and a few of my personal things, a couple of pictures. It happened so fast and you don’t have time to think about what you’re going to gather. I was more upset with this fire than the one in ’85 . . . relived it over again.

THE REV. KRISTIN NEILY

Episcopal minister, 28, Altadena

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My reaction (when told to evacuate) was: I’m wearing my wedding rings, I knew my husband was safe and I was safe. Then I did three things: I tried to think of the valuables--I just got married and I realized that the important things were timely things--so I got the wedding things, the pictures, my dress, my husband’s wedding suit. Then the important documents, including some airline tickets and the UCLA football tickets for Saturday’s game. Then I thought practically and tried to pack clothes to carry us over for a few days.

It’s funny because a lot of people were talking about what to take, even my relatives in Michigan. You have to be practical, then you think about the valuables, then you decide what is really valuable to you. Some people at the church (All Saints Episcopal in Pasadena) took valuable paintings. My husband and I took a big bag of all of our love letters. Those are of huge sentimental importance to us. I’m also thankful we got my baby book and my husband’s baby pictures.

I told parishioners and told them that I had been evacuated. But it’s funny that I had no grandiose things to say about the purpose of God . . . just that it was going to be OK.

BOB VENABLE

Counselor, 38, Laguna Beach

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I had to drive from Irvine to Laguna Beach. When I got there, I wasn’t allowed to take my car in. I had to run to get to my house. When I got there, the last thing I was thinking about was getting out. Our home isn’t that much, but it’s all we have. So it was like I was going to go down with the ship (but my house didn’t burn). What things would I take? I was beyond that. It was going to be all or nothing. Thank God the firefighters were there.

DIANE RUMBAUGH

Public relations consultant, 37

Thousands Oaks

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It’s kind of like an earthquake, unless they happen you don’t think about it.

Two years ago, the hill behind our house caught on fire. That was the only time I have taken fire seriously. I got stuff together and threw it in my truck.

I work out of my home and I would take my stack of computer disks. And we’ve got filing cabinets. I would take all the important papers out of them. And photographs. Of course, I would take the dog. But the salamander in my son’s room would have to fend for himself.