Camp Pendleton Marines Help with California Wildfire Relief

By Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Belovarac
MCB Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, CA - Marines here joined disaster-relief efforts for California wildfires Monday night by supplying food, water and hundreds of cots to residents on the base and in surrounding communities.

Wildfires have destroyed much of Southern California, forcing mass evacuations and burning hundreds of homes.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency for seven counties including San Diego County Monday.

Camp Pendleton has allowed 20,000-23,000 civilian vehicles to travel through to the greater San Diego area, said Col. J.B. Seaton III, commanding officer of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

“We feared what we would have to face,” said Abby Deloach, a Fallbrook resident who sought refuge with her husband. “We guessed there would be something here. Even if we had to sleep in our car we would feel safer (on base) anyway.”

Within two hours of notification, Marines stocked the field house with food, water and beds. Camp Pendleton’s Paige Field House was utilized to house the evacuees looking for shelter.

The field house will shelter and supply people in need for as long as the resources are needed, said Kerri Latimore, manager of Paige Field House.

The Paige Field House was on standby, waiting for the call telling them their facility would soon become an evacuation center.

“We need to take a bigger part in the community,” said Sgt. Fernando J. Urena, 27, from Los Angeles. “It makes me glad that Marines rose to the occasion.”

Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton has also offered its resources for refueling civilian and government aircraft. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar remains on standby to assist with firefighting efforts.

Source: USMC

Technorati Tags: News National Arnold Schwarzenegger CA Wildfires Camp Pendleton Fernando J. Urena Kerri Latimore Military United States Marine Corps USMC

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