[First_Salute]

From the Big Bear Grizzly, Big Bear Lake, California, News and Classifieds, Nov. 4, 2003, Tuesday

Article by Judi Bowers

Old Fire 78 percent contained, federal team moving out

It seems like weeks since life in the Big Bear Valley has been normal. In reality, it's been only few days, long days, but only a few.

As the Valley returns to life, residents return and businesses reopen their doors, the sleeping giant known as the Old Fire is 78 percent contained as of Nov. 3. The federal management team is heading up and moving out, being demobilized in the Big Bear Valley and moving to a new location. The team responsible for the Big Bear branch of the Old Fire will be taking over the suppression duties on the fire, moving the camp and incident command back to San Bernardino within a day or so.

Tuesday, Nov. 4, a community meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center. Big Bear's fire chiefs Dana Van Leuven of Big Bear City and Ken Hammond of Big Bear Lake, representatives from the federal fire management team, Forest Service District Ranger Allison Stewart and local elected officials will be on hand to provide information. They will tell the community what happened during the evacuation period, share the appreciation of all that the community was spared and answer questions. A Power Point presentation will show the progression of the fire, the local resources activated and the contingency bulldozer lines completed.

Schools are scheduled to reopen in the Bear Valley as of Nov. 4, and all students will resume a normal schedule.

 

Pictures

The final briefing map for the Big Bear branch of the Old Fire was displayed at the Convention Center during the 6 a.m. briefing Nov. 3.

 

"That says it all."

 

[First_Salute]

At the RimOfTheWorld.net message board (Valley of Enchantment), Nov. 4, 2003 ---

From: Ski

Sent: Tuesday, November 4, 2003 11:09 AM

Hello my dear and faithful friends,

This is Ski from Jim's Auto in toptown. It was quite the experience remaining in my own home as the fire came just a few feet away from my back yard. If I were to describe it I would say that the devil just sneezed over my house. Embers were flying every which way and the smoke was as thick as the densest fog. My eyes burned and I tried to cough up what I inhaled. All was done in vain, so it seemed; until the hand of God wisped the fire right by my house. But it wasn't over. The fire was too great and too massive. Smoldering embers became fires once again. How, just how, do you man the whole mountain with firemen to watch for the flaring nostrils of our enemy? It was impossible, so it seemed, until I realized that my innate nature was to help my cherished community. I became an untrained fireman for the community of Teddy Bear, which is by the hangliders. Spotting fires and even fighting some. The heat was intense enough to melt the hairs off my head; well at least the hairs that I had.

I send my utmost apologies to all that have suffered loss in this firestorm from which the team of firefighters, who fought so long and so hard, could not save your possessions. My heart and prayers are with you all. A tragedy, so it seems; devastation is reflected off of many eyes or voices that I have seen or heard from this community. I once heard that death smiles at us all, but all a man can do is smile right back. I've had a week to reminisce, though loss is tangible, I pray that we all smile at death and "continue to strain forward to those things which lie ahead" and swim in "hope, which is never failing."

This event, one of the biggest in my life, has made me think how all is so temporal. My family is what I hold dearest to my heart. So please, mourn as need be, but remember that God catches every one of your tears in a bottle, labels it, and puts it on His shelf (PS 56:8). I have the privilege of a son that cares for his communities memories. So this week, spending more then forty hours cumulative, he has filmed and put together an edited video for all to see. I will have them available at Jim's Auto, number (909) 338-1946, soon. Please call, stop by and inquire about this. Though it may jerk some tears and bring back memories, I know that it is worth while to have in your heart's hands. Thank you firemen, police officers, volunteers, friends, and family for all your prayers. May God bless your journey to a new height in which you cannot explain.

They Call me Ski

Henry Szczypiorski