Kris and the Sonoma Fires

Pictures on the left (top and bottom) are of Erin's high school!

On October 8, 2017 the area in and around Sonoma, CA caught fire.  Over the next few days and weeks, more than 56,556 acres burned.  Approximately 12,000 structures were damaged or completely destroyed, including 5130 homes and 4000 commercial buildings.  Also part of these grim statistics were the loss of 3200 cars, 111 boats and the death of 23 residents.  Total expense for what is being called “the costliest fire in California history" (to date), is $2.79 billion. 

As Kris’ family, we watched and worried as she reported she had loaded her car to capacity expecting to be evacuated at any minute since she could see the fast-moving flames from the balcony of her apartment.  Erin attended her first homecoming dance on the Saturday night before the fire began, but on Monday morning woke to find her school (Cardinal Newman High School) had burned to the ground as well as her elementary school.   Many of their friends lost homes, cars, loved ones … and livelihoods in these catastrophic weeks, but Kris, Erin, Tylre, Jaeson and Memo were all remembered in our prayers and are safe and sound, although Stacy and I wanted to jump in the car and take them a care package and an arm around their shoulders. 

Local leaders say, "Sonoma's recovery is going to be marathon, not a sprint!"  The only "silver lining" in this terrible experience is Kris - a mortgage loan processor - certainly has job security for the foreseeable future ... and we are so happy and relieved to know she and her family are safe.