California wildfires affect SBU students and alum

Firefighters in California have begun to take control of the wildfires that have burned over 516,000 acres, killed seven people and injured 90. According to an article in The New York Times, officials predict the fires will be completely out by early next week. While these fires may be 2,500 miles away, they still affect those in the St. Bonaventure community. Paul McDonald, executive director of Robert Half Management Resources in California, has experienced a number of difficulties and inconveniences due to the fires. McDonald, a 1980 graduate of St. Bonaventure, serves as the Southern California Bonaventure Alumni chapter contact. McDonald has been living in California for 12 years and said these past few fire seasons have been the worst.

"I have never seen that much damage," McDonald said in a phone interview.

Although McDonald's property has not been harmed, he said two of his friends have lost their houses.

"Growing up in western New York, you're faced with blizzards," McDonald said. "You learn to live, to see them coming . here you see (the fires) coming but you never think they will reach you."

California has been using every available resource in response to the fires. The local first responders have been on the front lines since the fires began. The National Guard has been assisting and even prison inmates have been called in.

According to an article in USA Today, inmates trained in fire fighting have been brought out to help fight the fires for $1 an hour and two days off their sentence per day worked. McDonald believes the local government has been doing everything it possibly can to help with the situation.

"We appreciate the support on all levels. The local, state, federal government and FEMA were very organized," McDonald said.

Students at St. Bonaventure from California can do very little.

"[T]he only thing anyone 3,000 miles away from home can do is assist and console those who have lost their homes in the midst of this terrible disaster," said freshman Andrew Serrato.

Serrato lives about 40 miles east of Los Angeles in a town called Upland.

Senior Kelly Gregory lives in Carlsbad, just north of the Mexican Border.

"I have been watching the news constantly and have been checking up with my family members in the San Diego and LA area all the time," Gregory wrote in an e-mail.

Senior Meredith Brown lives about four hours north of the fires. Some of her friends have been evacuated while other friends' houses have been in danger.

"BonaResponds might want to take a little trip down to So Cal - this fire is devastating to California," Brown wrote in an e-mail.

Fortunately, those interviewed did not experience first hand the loss of life or property. Senior Jonathan Ter Meer from Claremont was not really affected.

"The fires are almost contained right now and everything seems to be getting back to normal," Ter Meer said. "I'm sure that if the situation resulted in losing a home or something, life would be pretty hard right now."

St. Bonaventure currently has 10 students from the California area, according to Heather Jackson, registrar. Four could not be reached for comment.