My community in Rancho San Diego is surrounded by hills. So when I saw a fire descending from the one closest to my house, I knew my whole neighborhood was in danger.
I have lived in one place all my life, and my mother’s family before me. In the 50 summers my house has existed, a fire has never come as close as the Steele Fire did July 9. Sure, there have been a handful of close calls where fires have prompted us to pack up or evacuate.
But what made this fire so much more dangerous was not its proximity but the fuel in its path. The open area where it burned was filled with dead brush that could easily catch fire. Fox 5 News described it as “a community ready for flames.”
When my father alerted the rest of my family to the emergency, we immediately began to pack our most important, irreplaceable belongings, which, I might add, were surprisingly few. This made me grateful to my parents for teaching me to put no faith in mortal possessions that can easily be destroyed, or in this case, burned.
Those in my family who were free or had finished packing ensured that the neighbors knew of the situation and could evacuate. Around this time, we began to hear the wails of sirens and the thunder of helicopters as firefighters rushed to the scene.
While my family was packing and confirming the safety of our neighbors, I saw an opportunity to photograph the fire and grabbed my camera. As I viewed the fire from my lens, I noticed little yellow forms on the mountain, distorted by the heat and smoke.
I was immediately encouraged by the bravery of the firefighters and breathed a silent prayer of protection for them. It was terrifying enough standing 900 yards away from the consuming blaze, so I couldn’t even fathom what it was like fighting it from a close distance.
After three hours of firefighters dousing flames and a considerable number of water and retardant drops, the fire dwindled into a few persistent hotspots. And as quickly as it started, the Steele Fire died out. Twenty-eight acres were burned, but miraculously, the residents and housing were untouched.
With the smoky sky and retardant-stained hills being the only reminder of the day’s events, we brought our things back into the house. The firefighters stayed overnight to ensure the area was safe, but the fire had burned its last.
Fire departments across San Diego are the frontline of defense against wildfires, but there are also ways for homeowners to reduce fire risks to their homes. After all, an event like the Steele Fire could happen anywhere under the right conditions.
The most important fire preparation measure people can take is to simply be ready to evacuate when the need arises. Hazards are also greatly reduced when flammable materials like dead brush are removed from the vicinity of houses, according to an NBC 7 report.
A rising problem in recent times is drone incursions, where people fly drones to view fires. These drones are a threat to firefighting aircraft and put them at risk of being recalled and grounded. This was an issue with the Steele Fire, and while the aircraft did not have to pull back, it should serve as a reminder for people to respect the safety of pilots during these fires.
Firefighters save thousands of lives every year, along with innumerable housing structures that would take months to rebuild. I am so incredibly thankful that my family and neighborhood are safe, and I cannot begin to express my gratitude for the firefighters who fought valiantly. By the grace of God, their efforts are what truly turned the tide of that day and saved my beloved community.
Barton is a high school senior living in Rancho San Diego. She is on Instagram @thebirdsofpraise.