‘I haven’t slept in three days’

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High above, water-dropping airplanes circled as fires raced up Mt. Woodson near Poway. Down below, in the Mina de Oro community of hilltop homes, firefighters tried to beat back flames that flanked two-thirds of the neighborhood.
Dave Alfer, 47, had no real business here. On Sunday night, his 3,500-square-home in Ramona had burned to the ground. He could have evacuated and started to reflect long and hard about rebuilding among other fire refugees.
Instead, he came to this fire-ringed community to help a friend in need and whoever else he could. Looking tired and scruffy with a beard, blue jeans, work boots and a baseball cap, Alfer lugged around a cooler with Gatorade. The auto repair shop owner passed the sports drinks out to weary firefighters and residents. He used his Jeep Cherokee to help neighbors move belongings to safety.
“I haven’t slept in three days,” Alfer said Tuesday. “I’m driving around from house to house, trying to help out. That’s just the way my daddy brought me up.”
About 11:20 a.m., as aircraft attacked the flames on the mountain crowned with communication towers, Alfer loaded his friend’s goat into his Jeep and drove off, taking the animal to safety -- all the while flashing the peace sign.

-Robert J. Lopez in Mina de Oro (near Poway)