, Nov. 5, 2004 ---
Despite 93 percent containment of the Old Fire, some Cedar Glen residents were still prevented from going home Tuesday while thousands from neighboring mountain communities were allowed to return home. Some homes were without power, telephone service and gas, utility officials said.
Gil Alexander, a Southern California Edison spokesman, said power had been restored to 15,570 of Edison's 24,000 mountain customers by Tuesday afternoon.
"Crews have made substantial progress,' he said. "We're about two-thirds of the way there, and if weather permits, we should have service to virtually all of our customers within 24 hours.'
In all, 1,460 poles, 736 transformers and miles of power lines were damaged at 341 locations during the Old Fire, which charred 91,281 acres ... [snip]
Portions of Highway 18 and all of Highway 330 remained closed to residents Tuesday, and Highway 173 remained closed at Lake Arrowhead Road, said Caltrans spokeswoman Holly Kress ... [snip]
The number of those leading the effort to fight the fire has been reduced as the focus has turned away from structure protection to finishing up the containment line.... [snip]
Hundreds of people packed the Performing Arts Center in Big Bear Lake on Tuesday evening to hear a description of the efforts to save their community. No homes were lost in Big Bear Valley.
Emergency personnel praised community members for their cooperation during the evacuation.
"I thought I would lose my city forever,' Big Bear Lake City Manager Michael Perry told the crowd.
Sheriff's Department officials said jokingly that Oct. 29, the day most people evacuated, was "free speeding day.' Officials from outside the area praised local officials for their extensive planning in the past two years to prepare for such a fire.
Perry said he will present a four-point plan for keeping the community safe at Monday's City Council meeting.
The plan calls for:
- Completing the fire breaks that have been started.
- Maintaining the breaks.
- Removing dead and dying trees.
- Maintaining the forest at a density that lets trees survive drought or bark beetles.
"We should be able to live safely within this forest,' Perry said to a standing ovation.
Meanwhile, the evacuation center at San Bernardino International Airport fell Tuesday from a peak population of about 2,000 to about 650 as evacuees have been allowed back into most mountain communities.
American Red Cross officials said the airport shelter may be closed in the next day or two and consolidated with the shelter at the National Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino.
One woman asked officials if she could come back to the shelter if she went up to her house and found out couldn't stay because there still was no power. She was assured the Red Cross would have a place for her.
"These shelters will remain open until the people have or are placed in temporary housing,' said Bob Howard, a spokesman for Red Cross Disaster Relief. "And as long as the power is still out at some homes, we will continue to have the shelters open.'
About 100 Red Cross case workers are helping the displaced in their search for new living arrangements. The Red Cross is also offering to pay their first month's rent, Howard said.
People lined up at a table inside the hangar Tuesday to get orange passes that will allow them through the remaining roadblocks to go back into the mountains check out their homes.
With fewer people in the shelter, many of those remaining have taken the now unused cots and stacked them sideways to form little green canvas walls to provide a little privacy and a little insulation from the cold air inside the open hangar.
"See that big door? It doesn't close,' said Red Cross volunteer Abel Chapa. "See that big bay window? It doesn't close.'
Media are now allowed in only during certain hours so those at the center can have some privacy in mid afternoon.
In a warehouse at the airport, the Salvation Army was letting evacuees select donated clothes, jackets, food, shoes, cosmetics and toiletries.
Capt. Beau Perez, an administrator and pastor for the San Bernardino Salvation Army, said the local organization will continue to operate a cash-less thrift store.
People who lost their property and have received vouchers can shop for items at the store.
"We are also moving food out to people in need,' he said.
Staff Writer Angelica Martinez contributed to this report.
