Irvine : Quadriplegic Looks for New Home After Fire

More than two weeks after an arson fire wiped out quadriplegic Richard Pfost’s home, the Irvine Valley College student was still at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Long Beach Wednesday with nowhere else to go.

Frustrated with his stay at the hospital, the only place that could provide him with the special equipment he needs, Pfost said he feels angry and unhappy.

“I am so unhappy. I want to be back with the people who care about me,” the 48-year-old veteran said.

At the Irvine school, students, faculty, staff and community members have donated more than $10,000, $3,500 of which was raised during an auction last week, college spokeswoman Susan Clark said.

While the contributions will help to replace some of the items Pfost lost during the Sept. 9 fire, two major areas yet to be replaced are housing and transportation.

Without a home that is wheelchair-accessible, Pfost, who needs special eating utensils, a special bed and someone to help him with various tasks, will have to remain at the hospital. And to get from the Long Beach hospital to the Irvine school involves three buses and four hours, said Pfost, who tried the bus system Monday and now is looking for new transportation.

“I’m trying,” said Pfost, who added that his biggest preoccupation is getting back to his classes. Until the fire, Pfost was attending seven classes, two of which he has had to drop. But, he insisted, “I won’t give up on my education, no way.”

The Orange County Transit District, through a corporate sponsor, donated a three-month pass on the bus system, spokeswoman Joanne Curran said Wednesday. If the county’s Dial-a-Ride program is not convenient, Curran said the transit district could arrange to transfer the gift to the Consolidated Transportation Service Agency, which Pfost said would be preferable.

But the vans from the private nonprofit transportation agency for the disabled and elderly travel only within Orange County and “it’s an awful long way” from Long Beach, operations manager Pat Martin said. Martin said an exception could be made in Pfost’s case.