Burned-Out Families Struggle to Rebuild Lives in ‘Paradise’

Most of the 32 families burned out of swank homes in these forested hills one month ago are trying to rebuild their “lives in paradise.”

But the soft rustling of the surviving pine trees belies the anger, confusion and lingering sadness many feel over the sudden firestorm that swept through this posh community 150 miles south of San Francisco on May 31.

“I feel like I’m sifting through the remains of someone who died long ago, looking for something that will help me identify what was once here,” said Christie Siegel, as she walked through the rubble of her grandparents’ home.

“They had lives in paradise here, but they will rebuild,” she added, pulling an antique baby spoon from the blackened earth.

Fog now blankets Huckleberry Hill, chilling an already desolate scene. Bulldozers work at a half-dozen lots. A new home’s structural skeleton stands off Costado Road.

Largely intact chimneys loom like monuments to the exclusive enclave built by Monterey County’s elite. A few homes, untouched by flames, were damaged by smoke.

The wind-fanned blaze, believed to have been started when an illegal campfire in Del Monte Forest got out of control, caused $18 million in damages. It took 900 firefighters four days to fully control it.

Homes in the burned area, which overlooks the famed Pebble Beach golf courses, were valued at up to $500,000. About 25 residents have decided to rebuild, the others are undecided.

Because most homeowners were insured, the question of whether any will qualify for federal disaster aid hasn’t been resolved.

Some homeowners discovered insurance wasn’t enough. Fred Sampson of State Farm said two of 10 homes he inspected were underinsured by $20,000.

Agencies to Speed Work

To speed rebuilding, county Supervisor Sam Karas has promised to streamline planning paper work and inspections. And the state Coastal Commission will waive its time-consuming review as long as homes are not more than 10% larger than their original size.

The community has rallied to help those left homeless by the blaze, finding rental housing and helping catalog losses for insurance adjusters.

Numerous clean-up services have been offered by local businesses, and merchants are offering up to 25% discounts to victims of the fire.

“The families are meeting regularly now, and they seem to be drawing a lot of strength from amongst themselves to get through this ordeal,” said Dick Andrews, general manager of Pebble Beach Community Services District.

Children Suffer Problems

Rose Turpen, 38, is having her children draw pictures of the fire damage to deal with their emotional anguish. Aged 3 and 6, they developed flu-like symptoms from stress and couldn’t sleep.

Disorientation, depression and continuing anxiety are difficulties many families are experiencing, some of it a delayed reaction, according to Eric Jacobson, a spokesman for nearby Community Hospital.

Turpen, whose family plans to rebuild their showcase house, said talking has diminished the anger she felt over the little notice she feels was given about the spreading flames.

“If I had known for a minute the fire was as large as it was, I never would have stayed as long as I did with my kids,” said Turpen, who had to be convinced by neighbors to flee.

Frank and Susy Fernandez haven’t decided whether to rebuild their unique adobe-brick home, which was built in the early 1950s. Today’s building codes would push reconstruction costs to $160 a square-foot, Frank Fernandez said.