RYAN HAGEN
News Assistant
The Esperanza fire has been fully contained after burning more than 40,000 acres and killing five firefighters.
At its peak, the wildfire ravaged more than 60 miles between Cabazon, 120 miles east of Malibu, and Highway 79.
Highly flammable chaparral plants, Santa Ana winds, and relative low relative humidity levels – below 10 percent – helped the fire, which authorities believe was set intentionally, nearly overwhelm firefighters at times.
Many people were evacuated, leaving students who have roots in the area scrambling to find the status of their homes, families and friends.
“I think the area’s been evacuated, but with all the chaos, I haven’t had a chance to talk to my parents yet,” Anna Pflieger said. “I’m just glad no one close to me was hurt.”
Between its ignition Oct. 26 and full containment Monday night, the Esperanza fire destroyed 34 homes and 20 outbuildings, and at one point its huge flames trapped five firefighters.
Four of them died within days, and a fifth died Tuesday after a battle with third degree burns that left him in critical condition for nearly a week.
“They were heroes,” said Becky Luther, who answered a tip line for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
She pointed to a story in the Idyllwild Town Crier, celebrating how those crew members had helped deliver a baby when the mother was unable to make it to her midwife several miles down the road.
Crew 57 at the Alandale fire station delivered a healthy baby boy, according to an August article. All of the firefighters mentioned in the article died Oct. 28, fighting the fire which just missed destroying the Alandale station.
Because it killed five firefighters, however, authorities say they might charge the arsonist with murder. Several “persons of interest” have been questioned, but involved agencies – including the FBI – are keeping a tight lid on the investigation.
Police have set up a phone number for tips and now offer a $500,000 reward for the arsonist.
An additional 14 firefighters were injured in the wildfire, the most since 2001.
This year, more U.S. forest land has burned, than any year since statistics were first recorded in 1960.
The cost includes more than lives lost and buildings destroyed. To contain the fire, CDF and other agencies amassed nearly 3,000 personnel, 310 engines and a variety of other equipment, costing taxpayers almost $10 million. Some of that equipment and crew will continue to patrol the area, looking for hot spots that could erupt into flames once more.
Most area roads, closed as the fire blazed, were reopened with its containment. A section of Highway 243 remains closed, however, because its missing a guardrail in a section.
11-02-2006
