Line Fire Update 9/29/24

Dear Camp Supporters:

Friday, as I was driving from Camp to Angelus Oaks, I could look over the canyon to the right and see huge billowing smoke plumes on the north side. The smoke twisted and swirled high into the atmosphere where there had been no smoke the previous day, and I was confident that the winds had kicked the fire back up on the far ridge across the canyon (in the direction of Big Bear). Fire crews were perched in every turnout along hwy 38 looking through their binoculars at the situation. I only saw smoke, not fire. I hope that the winds remain favorable for camp. Winds on Friday were blowing away from de Benneville.Thank you for your words of encouragement and offers to help cleanup camp. Many supporters raised their hands to help get things normalized and cleaned at camp. Your enthusiastic responses are very much appreciated! I hope to see some of you over the next month or two to help with small cleaning and maintenance projects. Unfortunately, the USFS has not given us permission to hold any camps, and so an official work camp has not been scheduled. The staff continues to scrub and clean cabins and to clean equipment. 

The good news is that this fire has (so far) not produced the type of smoke damage that permeates the walls, curtains, carpets and bedding. We had a very heavy rain for a few hours, and it really helped to wash the ash off the roof tops, decks and handrails. Ash can be so very hard to deal with because it is as light as air and easily kicks up and dances in the breeze then settles back down onto something new. The interior of my car has ash because it wisps right in through the door when I get in and out of my car.

Please hold the mountain top in your good thoughts and prayers. We need all the positive energy we can get. And let’s hope we can reopen soon. We have every weekend of the fall booked, and we hate to cancel events and disappoint campers. We have had to cancel all September camps since evacuating; and will now have to consider each week in October as it approaches. The USFS has closed the forest to recreational activities, and when they will reopen organizational camps is still not clear.

The camp is eerily quiet without visitors, and the squirrels are busy scampering around hording their acorns. We are draining the pool and hot tub this coming week as both need to be cleaned of ash and winterized.

If you joined the monthly giving program recently, I want to thank you. Your monthly support will help us get through this extended period of closure. Just sitting quietly, camp’s operational expenses are around $50,000 per month. Please consider helping camp sustain itself by joining the monthly giving program at any level. Click here for more information.

Daisy and I send you love from the mountain top!

Janet James
Executive Director
director@uucamp.org