Area native loses home in California wildfire

Published 12:00 am Friday, October 31, 2003

The California fires may be over 1,500 miles away, but some Albert Lea residents are not immune to its effects.

Resident Vernon Al Jahnke was emotionally sideswiped when he found out that his son and daughter-in-law, Vernon John and Deb Jahnke, had to vacate their home in southern California as the uncontrollable fires burned it.

The elder Jahnke learned of the incendiarism on Sunday. &uot;I’m okay now, but I had a certain amount of fear,&uot; he said.

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Vernon Al and his daughter, Emelie Paulson, described his son’s experience. Vernon John and Deb went to bed on Saturday night in their Claremont home, just west of Los Angeles. The fire was a ways away and the unworried couple went to sleep. They woke up early Sunday morning to blaring loudspeakers telling residents to evacuate their houses. The Jahnkes were able to collect some items, such as photos and important documents, before escaping with two of their cars. Jahnke wanted to go back for more, but authorities prohibited it. It was too dangerous.

Their house burned completely.

&uot;They had just moved there about two years ago,&uot; Jahnke said.

Vernon Al said that houses surrounding his son’s home were barely touched.

Paulson said that the fire had been burning on the other side of a road and the her brother did not think that the fire would travel across the pavement. However, Vernon and Deb have two large trees on their property, she said. The trees caught on fire.

&uot;They are healthy,&uot; the elder Jahnke said with a large smile. He found out about the disaster on the night of the fire. Family and friends came to his apartment to tell him the news and help ease the blow.

Jahnke said that Vernon and Deb are not going to leave California because of the fire.

Vernon Jahnke said that that was true. &uot;Lots of questions need to be answered,&uot; Vernon said. But added, &uot;We are staying in California.&uot;

Currently, the couple is staying at a friend’s house. They have tried to maintain normalcy within their lives. Deb taught school the following day and even attended a Spanish class she has been attending. Vernon was off this week, but he met with his boss to discuss a way to balance the work in his professional life with the adjustment in his private life.

And adjustment is needed as emotions fluctuate. He said, &uot;I don’t want to make any final decisions, because the next day I might feel a different way.&uot; He has to think about things such as insurance, a future home and visiting with his two sons.

Vernon John said that he and his wife are friends with someone who owns a home about six houses from their old one and they are going to move in there temporarily. Parishioners and friends helped furnish it, he said.

They are surrounded by a community of supporters, he said. Yet one important step for the couple is to find a support group with others who have lost their homes. Vernon John said that he wants to contact the Red Cross and find other nearby people who have lost their homes.

&uot;There’s a miracle that happens&uot; when you are able to identify with people in a situation similar to yours, he said.

The elder Jahnke also finds himself enveloped in support. He said, &uot;As a grandparent, I offer thanks and appreciation to neighbors and friends.&uot;

(Contact Benjamin Dipman at ben.dipman@albertleatribune.com or 379-3439.)