UPDATE 9/4/09- The ranch has been re-opened to the staff and animals and the process of returning/rebuilding has begun. 

Everyone,

I know things have been a bit dark on the site and abroad this week and I apologize for that, however due to circumstances outside of my control I, like many others, have been tending to issues related to the massive fires in Southern California.

With regards to the fires, first and foremost everyone involved with April Showers here in Southern California is fine and largely unaffected by the blaze save maybe the horrendous air quality and layer of ash that seems to blanket everything within 20 miles of the fire. However, as some of you may or may not know several of my very close friends, including my fiancée, work and/or volunteer at ranches located in the Angeles National Forrest. Early Saturday morning we received a call from one of the ranches in the Angeles National Forrest, specifically the one my fiancée is directly involved with, and were asked to rush to their location to help with the evacuation. We arrived to less than hospitable conditions, the air was smoky and visibility could, at times, be measured in feet versus miles on a normal day. The fire was not yet upon the ranch nor did we think it would reach us within a day if at all, however we complied with the evacuation order and began the long process of getting everyone and everything to safety. As of Saturday evening the fire had not reached the ranch nor did it appear to be heading our way.

Sunday morning we resumed our evacuation, though it seemed we might be okay as the fire began shifting its path. By mid day however, the fire jumped and we found ourselves square in its path. We hurried everyone and everything out at that point and evacuated the ranch with about 30-45 minutes to spare. From this point I can not say for certain what happened at the ranch for I, along with countless others, were tending to the tasks at hand at a temporary base camp set aside for us beyond the fire line and in relative safety. From what I’ve been told by firemen, police officers and other employees of the ranch is that fire tore through the property shortly after we left and laid waste to most everything save the main houses and larger steel structures. All and all, the fire took all of the vegetation (ground brush to old growth trees), some of the smaller structures including all of the caretakers’ quarters, several service vehicles, water towers and all utility lines. While not a total loss the devastation was vast and in many cases difficult to fathom.

I, along with a few others, returned to the ranch early Monday morning between 2-3 am, several hours after the fire had rolled down the mountainside and laid waste to the property, in order to retrieve necessary supplies not consumed by the inferno. The ranch rests in a small valley and upon our arrival both mountainsides were still on fire while the ranch itself sat smoldering with only little, containable fires, still burning. The atmosphere was hot and humid despite the early morning hour, and the light from the still burning fires surrounding us gave us enough light to see a good portion of the damage. What was once a lush and heavily wooded area now resembled the surface of the moon with a thick layer of ash on the ground and seemingly no signs of life visible as far as the eye could see. The air was thick and the smoke was nauseating.

We retrieved what we could and hurried back down the mountain to base camp. Later that morning, after sunrise (sunrise being a relative term for we haven’t really seen the sun in days due to the smoke) I along with my fiancée went back to the ranch to deliver food to some of the workers on ember watch. At that time the level of destruction became very clear as entire structures, some ten to twenty feet high, reached just inches from the ground, burned or melted by the blaze. Cars resembled marshmallows left over an open flame to long and there were fewer than a dozen trees still standing that will inevitably be cut down for they were hollowed out by the fire. Another sad sight was the sheer number of smaller wild animals, rabbits, squirrels and birds lying dead on the ground, unable to escape the flames. It was a very humbling, heartbreaking and awesome sight that was not only difficult to fathom but believe all together. The simple fact that less than 12 hours prior the property was a veritable oasis of life and now resembled an alien land is still difficult to reason.

Monday and Tuesday everyone remained at base camp working in shifts as we tried to make sure people got sleep and food while caring for the evacuees. Last night and this morning was the first real sleep my fiancée and I got since waking up at 8am Saturday morning. She returned to base camp early this morning while I stayed behind to tend to our animals and the numerous phone calls and e-mails piling up since the news of the fire hitting the ranch broke out.

Again, I want to stress everyone in our circles is fine and despite the devastation the ranch will make a full recovery, though it will take some time. I’ve already received a number of messages and letters from some of you asking how you can help. We are working on ways for people to assist, which includes setting up a rebuilding fund however I don’t have any further details on that at this time. Those of you in the Southern California area not directly affected by the fire should not attempt to travel or go to the fire stricken areas to assist for the situation is hectic enough and your intentions, while good, will be over shadowed by the added presence as the firemen are doing everything they can to move people further and further from the blaze in order to protect everyone’s well being. If you have to do something I would suggest contacting the Red Cross or any number of shelters and donating food, clothing or even money at this time, but do not attempt to insert yourself into the situation physically.

I would like to thank all of you for your concern and well wishes during this difficult time and ask that you keep everyone affected by this horrible blaze in your thoughts and prayers. I would also like to thank the men and women of the Los Angeles County Fire Department as well as all of the other volunteers and emergency workers from near and far who have risked their lives so that others can go on enjoying theirs. To firefighters and all other public servants out there I thank you.

There is some other news brewing pertaining to the film, however I’m going to wait a few days and let things settle down here before diving into all of that for I want us all to be excited and focused on the new developments when the time is right.

I thank you all for your continued support and wish you the very best. Until next time, take care of one another and stay tuned…

Keywords: April Showers and the Station Fire in Southern California, Station Fire, Southern California Fire, April Showers, Wildfires, Wildfire, Fire News, Firemen, Evacuation, 

1. danmcclure Says:
   September 3rd, 2009 at 2:38 pm

   I am listening to the April Showers soundtrack, reading your message and looking at the aftermath of the inferno. It is quite overwhelming and makes me very sad to see. It’s good to know you are safe although I can imagine quite exhausted and shocked by what you have experienced. These images always make me think of all the tragedies we experience here on earth both natural and man made. It makes me wonder if this is a precept of how someday our earth will end. It is extreme I know but I can’t help think of it. But for now I trust things will rebuild and resume back to it’s original beauty. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to be of assistance in this rebuilding process.

   Take care

   Dan

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