#ErskineFire Rebuild
We are Tabatha & Phillip Stuart, founders of Simplified Leasing & Simplified Capital (www.simplifiedleasing.com and www.simplifiedcapital.com) located in Wofford Heights, CA (one of the communities situated around Lake Isabella)
On Thursday, June 23,2016 a fast moving wildfire started in the town of Lake Isabella. Within hours dozens of homes were destroyed near Lake Isabella. The fire left thousands without electricity, burned cell phone towers to the ground, took out internet & left water unsuitable to drink without boiling it first. https://weather.com/safety/wildfires/news/wildfires-azusa-duarte-southern-california
It seemed as though our valley was cut off from the rest of the world, as we are so accustomed to getting update through online media or cell phones.
By Friday Afternoon the fire had raged through the neighboring communities of Mount Mesa, Squirrel Valley, Southlake, Weldon & outlying areas. Nearly a dozen communities had to be evacuated. Officials estimated 100 structures were destroyed, of which 80 were homes. Another 1500 structures were threatened. Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in response to the fire & devastation.
By Saturday night, the fire had burned close to 36,000 acres and was still only at 5% containment. The Unforgiving Erratic/Unpredictable Winds pushed fires to their maximum fast paced destruction abilities while depleting the energy of Fire Crews and spreading manpower too thin to defend so many peoples homes. The number of Structures destroyed had risen to approximately 150 and another 75 damaged http://wildfiretoday.com/2016/06/23/california-scores-of-homes-burn-in-erskine-fire/ . Two people confirmed dead and a possible 3rd being investigated http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-fire-path-20160624-snap-story.html
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36,810 Acres have been burned as of today (Sunday, June 26, 2016) & containment is only at about 10%. The definitive estimate of loss cannot be calculated until the fire has been contained & deemed safe enough for investigators to assess the damage.
Our hearts break as the news and internet continues to bring more and more bad news about the growing devastation & loss in our community. It is unfathomable. Total communities where families settled down to retire or are just starting their family and raising children are just gone... It literally looks like a war zone (I am sure Google can show many videos and pictures).
We knew we had to do something to help those whose homes were destroyed. We are talking about Home Owners as well as Renters. All now without the comfort in a home to return to.
So, in addition to assisting in the immediate relief efforts, we know additional support will be needed once residents are allowed back in their burned communities as well as ones with homes still standing.
My thought, what about the ones whose homes were destroyed... what next for them? You know, when The Red Cross, TV Crews, Fire Crews all Leave? When the news event hitting International News falls away and some new event takes its place? These are the people we are raising money to help. Many renters and homeowners are without fire insurance; as their income wasnt enough to cover all their expenses & insurance. It was either eat or pay for insurance. For one lady it was pay for her husbands burial or pay for insurance..(he died just 3 weeks before the fire). The community of Southlake was hit the hardest. The majority of Southlake was burned to the ground & about 50% of the residents were without homeowners/fire insurance
So many home owners are going to need financial assistance. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT A LOAN. Too many of them are retired and on a very limited and fixed income. To add a loan to their daily expenses are simply not feasible. So we seek to offer the help they need regarding How Will They Ever Manage to Rebuild without our help? This is when America Historically Shines.
Every one of us who live in the Kern River Valley knows at least one person whose home was a total loss. You feel the pain & loss permeating the air... these are family & friends.. not some random person you don't know. We are a community that bonds together in tough times & we will be stronger despite the obstacles thrown our way.
Our plan for the money raised is to disperse it to the families who lost their homes and the Need is Now friends. I will get an accurate number of homes lost & who was left homeless as a result. Once the final numbers come in I'll have a better idea of the actual financial need. However, at present, with some 200 structures lost, the amount we seek to raise is a number which can easily be invested back into these folk’s lives.
We each reap what we sow in life. Times such as these are an opportunity to Sow a Good Seed and Serve Life. Imagine making a difference today in helping people just like you, get their lives back.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
