The second devastating fire in six months in and around the city of Santa Barbara resulted in widespread evacuations and the canceling and/or relocating of events last week, but no loss of life.
Early this week, Catholic parishes and institutions were still assessing damage done to parishioners' homes, but thankful that lives were spared by the fire that began May 6 in brush in the hills north of the city and, whipped by unseasonably strong winds and record heat, quickly scattered embers over a widespread area.
As cooler temperatures and moist air returned to the region last weekend, fire crews from a myriad of agencies around California began to get a handle on the Jesusita fire, but not before it had scorched 8,7000 acres and burned 70 structures, including many expensive hillside homes.
Only last Nov. 13, a fire in a roughly similar area had destroyed more than 200 homes burned to the ground in a matter of hours. This time, there was no damage to church property in the area, said Deacon Bill Smith, assistant to Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry in the Santa Barbara Region Office.
At San Roque Church on the west side of the city, several drastic schedule changes were necessitated when the neighborhood around the parish (including the regional office) was faced with mandatory evacuation. A Marriage Encounter experience for 19 couples who were expected from all over the state was cancelled, and a funeral needed to be moved to another site.
But the most dramatic event concerned the planned wedding of a recent convert that was scheduled for May 9. A quick call to Bishop Curry secured permission for the ceremony to be conducted in an empty polo field, followed by the reception, said parish secretary Tricia Knight.
"The wind and smoke did make it somewhat difficult for Msgr. Michael Jennett, the pastor, to hold the mike and give the blessing, but about 150 invited guests managed to celebrate with the couple," she said.
Many of the parishioners were forced to leave their homes, but as of Monday, no homes were reported as lost. Msgr. Jennett celebrated all Masses for the weekend, although the congregation, including some people from nearby Santa Barbara Mission that was closed, attended in fewer numbers. A flower shop owner delivered 500 pink carnations to be given out for Mother's Day.
"Cleanup from the all the fallen ashes is difficult as the fine particles continue to circle and float in the air," said Knight. Warnings are still in effect although by Monday the air was moderate and smoke had diminished - far different from the ferocious blaze that ringed the mountains in plain view from the parish.
Late last week, as the fire spread, parishes of the Santa Barbara Region received an email from Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry asking all parishes to make a decision whether or not to be open on the weekend. Bishop Curry also granted dispensation to those affected.
At St. Barbara Parish at Old Mission Santa Barbara, all Sunday Masses were canceled, as emergency, law enforcement and fire protection services commandeered the property on May 6 and since then protected and utilized the property and facilities for whatever needs they may have needed
Music director Roy Spicer noted that he and Franciscan Father Richard McManus, Mission Guardian, both decided "that it would be in everyone's best interest" to have the Old Mission and Parish Church remain closed throughout the weekend. The parish pastor, Franciscan Father Daniel Barica, was on pilgrimage to Italy with 40 members of the parish community until May 12.
"Keeping the Old Mission Church closed this weekend was a difficult decision to make," said Spicer, "but we are confident that our faith community and our many visitors understand the need to be as safe as possible during this time of re-entry to the area. The Old Mission will re-open (most likely) early this week and return to our regular Mass schedule."
The St. Mary Seminary Retreat Center, located about two miles above Santa Barbara Mission in the hills north of the city, was "very fortunate" to be spared just as it was last November, according to the director, Vincentian Father Patrick Mullin.
"We can't thank the fire fighters enough for their help," he said in appreciation for their immediate action and prior cooperation in attaining a grant to clear the surrounding brush.
After the November fire, fire fighters were instrumental in sending crews to clear the area that was a vital factor in saving the center during the recent conflagration. "We only had some damage on the gym," Father Mullin added, "some cracked windows and displaced tiles from the roof due to the wind."
The fire did affect the retreat schedule. Students from Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills were forced to cancel their Tuesday to Friday retreat, and St. Francis High School in La Canada also cancelled. Priests and staff were told May 6 to evacuate when the fire was about two to three miles away.
By May 11, they returned to view the area that now resembles a "moonscape," said Father Mullin. "From my window, I could see two of my close neighbors' homes burned to the ground and further away at least another six. There is also a sign at the Mission that it is closed. Our center may not be pretty," he observed, "but we are brick and concrete and that helped." |