Military Families Deal with the California Fires

10/23/07 - San Diego County residents take refuge in the Sports Warehouse Gym on Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., Oct. 23, 2007. Naval facilities throughout Navy Region Southwest have opened their gates to provide food, shelter and supplies to families of service members, thousands of whom have been displaced by the wildfires that are devastating Southern California. DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph M. Buliavac, U.S. Navy

10/23/07 - Victims of the San Diego wildfires move personal items and pets into a 500-person tent camp on Turner Field at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., Oct. 23, 2007. U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) One built the tent camp as emergency shelter for victims of the San Diego wildfires. More than 268 military personnel and their families have evacuated their homes to seek shelter in the camp. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brian Morales)

10/24/07 - Evacuees from the California wildfires seek refuge in the Camp San Mateo Gym on Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 24, 2007. Hundreds of thousands of civilians and military members have been evacuated as wildfires burn throughout San Diego County. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Seth Maggard

More than 400 military families in San Diego County and the surrounding areas take refuge in the gym on Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., on Oct. 23, 2007, after being evacuated from their homes due to encroaching wildfires. DoD photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark A. Leonesio, U.S. Navy

10/23/07 - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Cory Schultz, attached to the 24th Foxtrot Company, helps displaced families at an evacuation center on Turner Field on Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., Oct. 23, 2007. More than 400 military families in San Diego County and the surrounding areas were evacuated due to wildfires. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication 2nd Class Mark A. Leonesio)

10/23/07 - U.S. Navy Gunners Mate 3rd Class Bryan Marsh, assigned to guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59), hands out a toy to an evacuee at the gym on Naval Station San Diego, Calif., Oct. 23, 2007. More than 30 Sailors from Russell volunteered assist people displaced by the wildfires in Southern California that have destroyed over 300,000 acres of land. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Theresa Donnell)

10/24/07 - U.S. Navy Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Noah Rose, director for administration bachelors enlisted quarters, checks an animal being cared for in a makeshift kennel on Naval Medical Center San Diego, Calif., Oct. 24, 2007, due to evacuations in Southern California areas affected by the wildfires. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Mitchell)

10/24/07 - U.S. Navy Storekeeper Seaman Cristina Aaraosflores and Aviation Boatswain's Fuel Airman Davion Lynch moves their belongings out of their barracks room Oct. 23, 2007, at Naval Station North Island in Coronado, Calif., and onto the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) giving evacuated families a place to stay. Thousands of military families have been displaced by the wildfires in San Diego County, which have forced the evacuation of more then 300,000 and destroyed more than 1,000 homes. Naval facilities throughout Navy Region Southwest have opened their gates to provide food, shelter and supplies to the displaced families of service members. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kathleen Gorby)

As the California Wildfires raged, hundreds of military families were affected. They were evacuated and escaped with a few possessions and their pets. At the Naval stations and Pendleton Marine Base, tent cities and gyms were set up for the comfort of the families. Make-shift kennels were started.

Fortunately, most were able to return to their homes... but, not all were. A friend of ours is currently deployed to Iraq. His home was burned to the ground. Fortunately, his wife and daughters are physically fine. He is returning home as I type. He was getting ready to retire and they had just completed a remodel on their home. Now, they face the loss of everything and the task of rebuilding their lives. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers....