Survived 2003 fire, evacuated again

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Orange View Fairgrounds evacuation center:

Ruben Gurrola, 53, the patriarch of his family, has lived in the Lake Arrowhead area for 27 years. He has been buying his $150,000 house near the rim of The World High School for 8 years. Monday morning he decided to pack up the family and voluntarily evacuate to the center in San Bernardino. He spent his first night in his truck because, “It was full of the most important documents of his life,” those of his marriage, his citizenship papers, and his forthcoming homeowners papers (deed).

The family also went through the 2003 fire. They were at a soccer game in San Bernardino and didn’t make it to their home in time to save their dog, Pug. But the home survived then and the Gurrolas are hopeful it will again.

It was better this time, as the family was home to gather together, but, “I hope it does not become a routine.”

Gurrola’s daughters, Margarita, 21, was worried about her one-month-old son, David. “You know there’s just so many people around and I just worry about germs or an illness spreading and my son getting sick from it. But it’s been safe so far. It’s not your house but I guess it’ll be home for the next few days.”

-- Francisco Vara-Orta