WELS members safe in midst of wildfires
Filed Under: California, Committee on Relief, Fire
Although wildfires continue to rage in Southern California, WELS members in Yorba Linda are safe after fires passed through the surrounding area this past weekend. The fires, which are estimated to have destroyed more than 900 homes and scorched approximately 40,000 acres, began last Thursday.
Approximately 20 members of Grace in Yorba Linda—including one family whose home was destroyed—had to evacuate Saturday. Ten of them spent the night at the church, which did not sustain any damage. All have since returned home.
"We had a wedding Saturday afternoon and by that time the smoke was getting pretty thick—the fire was on the edge of Yorba Linda," says Rev. Daniel Wagenknecht. "At the end of the wedding, a teenager ran into the church and told me his house [was destroyed] and he couldn't locate his family." Wagenknecht says phone service was spotty because of the fires; however, half an hour later the boy's family was able to get through and let him know they were safe and staying at a relative's house.
After the boy's parents picked him up, Wagenknecht says he went home and packed his things. He and his family also had to evacuate, and headed to the church where Wagenknecht began ministering to the other displaced families. "We are just thankful that the Lord protected both life and property," he says.
WELS Committee on Relief is sending $7,500 to Grace to help the member family that lost its home. Some of those funds will also provide immediate assistance to affected community members. According to Wagenknecht, more than 90 homes in Yorba Linda were destroyed; however, he says most homeowners in the area—including the affected WELS family—have insurance.
