Oakridge Park residents make do for Christmas
Jody Miller walks her dog outside the Stevenson Ranch apartment she and her husband rented after smoke from the Sayre fire severely damaged their Oakridge Park home. Her sister, who is living upstairs, lost everything. Only young children will get Christmas gifts as the families save to rebuild. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Arlene Kosec, 75, looks at the rubble that’s left of her home in Oakridge Park. A friend has taken her in, but she misses her social life and the Christmas festivities of prior years. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Jody Millers great-nephew Rayce DiNova, 3, runs around in her apartment. Miller decorated the apartment as best she could, but its a far cry from the Santas, snowmen, reindeer and twinkling lights that traditionally decorated the mobile home park and the warm community spirit that filled it. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Rayce jumps into Millers arms. About 20 Oakridge families have rented apartments at the FountainGlen complex in Stevenson Ranch, and Miller says it helps to have familiar faces around for the holidays. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Jody Millers husband, Ken, holds a 100-year-old rosebush, an heirloom that had belonged to his mother and survived the fire. Jody Miller said the tragedy has made them focus on the real meaning of Christmas: Faith, family and friends. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Arlene Kosec, left, sits in the
