Replies

From weblog of last entry:

From:
Richard Whited, Strawberry Peak Lookout Leader
Sent:
Monday, October 27, 2003 3:35 PM
"I am the Lookout Leader for Strawberry Peak Lookout. I staffed Strawberry Saturday night as long as I could until I was given orders from District Ranger, Allyson Stewart, to evacuate. With the help of three visitors watching the fire, I dropped the shutters, removed the Osborne Fire Finder, grabbed the radio, and evacuated to our lookout office at CDF headquarters in San Bernardino. I personally asked the tanker base coordinator yesterday to paint the mountain at the first opportunity. I wish I could be up there to help further, but I''m back at work in Culver City (I live in Torrance). The tower is nothing compared to all of you who call the mountaintop home. I would prefer them to save your homes and businesses, instead of the tower, but I suspect that due to the communications equipment there, the lookout and radio towers on the peak will survive, as some of you lose your homes. Many of the volunteers who staff the lookout are your friends and neighbors. I suspect that they feel the same way. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all of you who have visited Strawberry, and have supported it and the six other towers through your donations of money and time. I feel great fear and sorrow for those who have lost, or will lose, their homes and businesses. I watched helplessly from Redrock Wall Overlook (sorry for closing it off - we were under orders) as the Del Rosa neighborhood burned. I had a brief drive through the area Sunday morning. I wish it had never happened. My condolences to all who lost their homes." Richard Whited