And it
became evident, too, that we also woke to why Glendora and its citizens can
rightly claim to be the Pride of the Foothills: Neighbors helping neighbors.
A young
man was given the assignment by firefighters (and a fire hose) to keep an eye
on a burning palm tree. His mom
sustained first degree burns on her back from burning palm fronds as she went
to help their neighbor.
A man’s
relative brought in his moving company’s trucks to help neighbors move
belongings in a safe, timely manner.
Neighbors
gave first-hand accounts of the fire on camera to TV news reporters or by phone
to local news shows. Such reports helped those beyond the evacuation areas keep
track of what was going on.
People
turned to social media to share photos and let friends/relatives know their
status.
Many posted on Facebook about families who lost
their homes and needed new lodgings, and then received many offers about available homes
and donations.
Heartfelt
prayers for safety were also transmitted via social media.
A big
“THANK YOU” to the U.S. Forest Service and Los Angeles County firefighters for
battling flames back from neighborhoods. At last count five homes were lost; it looked like so many more would be lost. The Glendora Police Department and other safety
agencies are to be commended for keeping the situation calm and organized.
We wish
those who lost homes or property a speedy return to their lives before they
woke to smoke and sirens. One thing is certain – they’ll certainly get help
from their Glendora neighbors.
