California inferno: supply's unsung heroes

Saturday, 25 Oct., 1645 hours. Half an hour before sunset, a small brush fire, no larger than half of a football field, is spotted by a civilian pilot and reported. A fire soon to be nationally known as the Cedar Fire, would later cause havoc and devastation across the East side of San Diego, only to force families to flea to the west coast.

Sunday, 26 Oct., 0130 hours. Families are wakened by raging flames and evacuate Valley Center with little time to react. The Paradise Fire, nearing the Northern edge of Escondido, forcing families south toward San Diego.

Within hours, fire in the Otay Mesa area is racing south towards Mexico, forcing the evacuation of South Bay residents north. Firestorm 2003 had begun.

An overwhelming mixture of low humidity, extremely high winds, dry brush and eucalyptus trees provided the perfect environment for the perfect firestorm. Winds push the fires 30 miles per hour, jumping major interstates and canyons while outrunning firefighters. By early Sunday morning, fires had raced over 50,000 acres and destroyed 100 residences.

City officials directed Navy families to evacuate the Murphy Canyon, and Eucalyptus Hills/Lakeside government housing areas with nowhere to go, and as families began seeking frantically for refuge, CAPT D.R. Landon, Naval Base Coronado (NBC) Commanding Officer, declared Naval Air Station North Island (NAS NI) and Naval Amphibeous Base Coronado (NAB) as shelter for military family evacuees, initiating a recall for emergency critical and essential personnel. NASNI Executive Officer, CAPT G.T. Walton further designated the Combined Bachelor Housing (CBH) as the primary housing area for evacuees while expanding fires burned nearly 300,000 acres and had taken over 200 homes.

Though emotions ran high with all San Diego residents fearing the worst to come from these unforeseen fires, critical and essential military and civilian personnel performed at their best. Naval Base Coronado's Supply Department took immediate action to aid evacuees in housing, feeding and comfort. Many, who feared losing their own homes and loved ones, made great sacrifices to help their fellow Sailors and families.

NASNI Combined Bachelor Housing's front desk soon became overwhelmed with many Navy Families requesting room accommodations. MSC (SW) Raymie Ochoa heard of the emergency at the CBH and quickly took the helm as the point of contact for all housing needs. The limited number of 3 front desk clerks, MS2 Kevin Lebahn, SH2 Barbara Lynch, and MS2 Frederick Zastrow, worked diligently registering over 1,000 evacuees in an eight hour period, making the evolution the most complex event in the history of NASNI CBH.

The CBH team, under the direction of MSCM Henry Salazar, was a complete success with MSC (SW) Ochoa and the front desk clerks receiving many Bravo Zulu's for their impeccable performance. In addition, MS3 Julius Coloma and LI2 Anthony Baker assisted military family members with additional information such as hours of operation for several establishments to include the commissary, Navy Exchange, and the galley while also providing extra linen. Every detail was attended to, every question answered, and most importantly, every person was housed.

SHC (SW) Delfin Perez, NASNI CDO, and MSC (SW) Eric Van Hofwegen, NASNI ACDO, provided exceptional leadership and management while taking full responsibility for setting up the NASNI gym evacuation shelter. Fred Sana and Weldon Trott aided Chief Perez and Chief Van Hofwegen in supplying 360 beds and hundreds of blankets from Property Management. Leaving her home just miles from the raging fires, Carrie Hogue, the Naval Base Coronado Deputy Supply Officer, extraordinarily coordinated and orchestrated the bedding material mobilization to the gym.

NASNI Galley, under the direction of CWO4 David Anspach, extended operational hours, providing 14 hour, non-stop, hot-meal service to over 1,000 military family evacuees and emergency personnel. For the families taking shelter in the NASNI gym, Building 651, MS2 Juanito Tingco provided much needed comfort working continuously to hand deliver hot coffee and subsistence throughout the day. Manning all facets of the operation, culinary expert's at the two NBC Galley's handled the influx of patrons with ease.

Additional security watches were provided as precautionary measures. Navy Region Southwest Family Service Center counselors were available for counseling. Volunteers from the American Red Cross, ombudsman, Navy Relief and chaplains were also available for moral support and assistance.

Nearly all the Navy families staying at NASNI CBH were allowed to return to their homes the following day as the fires subsided and were no longer a threat. Regrettably, a few families lost everything in Firestorm 2003, the most catastrophic fire in California history. With over 750,000 acres burned and over 3,000 homes lost, the damages are estimated to be well in excess of $2 billion.

Throughout this horrendous tragedy, Sailors pulled together, with great honor and pride, to aid and assist their fellow shipmates. A true testament of virtue, Sailors taking care of Sailors, it is a proven fact the great Navy Family takes care of its own.

LT Vinsant Evans is a '98 Naval Academy graduate and has served as Disbursing/Sales Officer in USS Kinkaid (DD 965).

COPYRIGHT 2004 U.S. Department of the Navy, Supply Systems Command
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group