Rim Family Services
and the Wildfires
When the October 2003 wildfires began (Old Fire) and the mountain was evacuated, the Department of Behavioral Health, County of San Bernardino requested that Rim Family Service staff assist them at the evacuation center at Norton Air Force Base. Our staff provided over 600 individual counseling services for residents during that one two-week evacuation period.
When the tragic repeat of the Wildfires began (Slide and Grass Valley Fires)in October 2007, Rim Family Services staff immediately reported to the Orange Show Evacuation Center and provided individual counseling services for over 800 people.
When a disaster is declared by the Federal government, FEMA is called in and funds are made available for crisis counseling. This was the case with both wildfire events. Within days, Rim Family Services was contracted to provide the crisis counseling and outreach work in our local communities. We know the area, the people, the needs; and had experienced the evacuation too. Our job in both cases was to help people understand what normal reactions are to a disaster and to help them return to their pre-fire functioning.
When we returned from the fires, we found that people all over our mountain were experiencing many of the expected and very normal reactions to the disasters:
- crying for no apparent reason
- anxiety/fearfulness
- forgetfulness
- fear about leaving home
- fatigue/exhaustion
- physical symptoms such as stomach problems and headaches
Our Future:
With two major fire events in just four years, we are all cautious about what each fire season will bring to our mountain, our homes and our families. Most residents have experienced at least one of the major fire events and many of us have experienced two. Burned forest and vacant lots are a constant reminder of the human tragedies we have experienced. Our children are impacted as well.
The Old Fire was the largest evacuation in the history of California. No one planned on evacuating with no electricity. No one planned on being gone for two weeks. No one planned on the emotional, physical and financial toll this would have on everyone. The Slide and Grass Valley Fires were driven by high winds that most of us had never experienced before.
Therefore, during fire season, we are especially cautious when there are high winds, power outages, the smell of smoke, the sound of a helicopter, sirens, etc. These are called triggers. Discovering what our triggers are and talking about them with each other helps us to put them in proper perspective. These triggers are normal. Pause when a trigger affects you and assess your safety. Is there a fire? Do I need to act. Most of the time your sense of safety can be restored and you can resume normal activities.
After providing over 28,000 individual counseling services following these two disasters, Rim Family Services' FEMA funded Outreach counseling contract has concluded. However, we have not concluded our wildfire counseling services in our office. If you or a family member are still trying to get back to the life you were living before the fire and are continuing to deal with anxiety, fear or hopelessness due to the wildfires, please call our office for assistance. 336-1800.
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