Students react to fires in California

Julianne Herts Guest Writer

“Last week the sky was orange,” said Roger Rothenberg ’11, a native of southern California. Rothenberg’s family was anxious about the wildfires that spread across southern California last week. “My family had stuff packed,” he said, “but they weren’t evacuated.” Other Vassar students were less fortunate.

As Evan Price ’10 returned from October break, the first flames of what would become a destructive series of wild fires ignited in California. Price, a native of Del Mar, Calif., was among the hundreds of thousands affected by the natural disaster. “My mom told me that she left my skylight open and there was a quarter-inch of ash on my desk the next morning,” said Price. “It’s like it was snowing ash.”

According to Dean of Students David Brown, about one-tenth of Vassar’s student body is from California, though relatively few students are from the areas hit by fire. “I sent a note out to people who were potentially affected,” said Brown. “It ended up being about 75 students. Most of the e-mails I received back said that everyone’s families and homes are okay.”

Price’s family was among those displaced by the fires. “It was only a few days of evacuation,” explained Price. “I think my parents ended up staying with friends.”

Californians are no strangers to these kinds of conditions. Fueled by the dry brush and arid climate, fires are a threat every summer and fall.

At this point it is difficult to determine what type of aid will be needed in the aftermath of the fires, but Brown is confident that Vassar students help as best they can.

“When things happen in the world it almost always has some impact on the Vassar community,” said Brown. "We try to reach out to students and community members from those areas. I think the community really does that for each other.”

By Oct. 29, each fire was at least 65 percent contained, according to the State of California Web site. Evacuated residents will soon return to their homes and assess the damage. The cause of the fires has been traced back to sparks created by welders, as well as downed power lines and arson.

Many hope that the California state government will use these events to reevaluate community fire safety procedures.