Angora residents, Forest Service work on life after the fire
By Jeff Delong, Reno Gazette-Journal
When the Cain family rebuilt their Tahoe Mountain home, leveled during the Angora Fire of June 2007, most windows were installed facing east.
In that direction, many trees survived, their trunks scarred by fire but with canopies now green with healthy needles.
The U.S. Forest Service has plans for the Angora burn area. Photo/Kathryn Reed
To the west, looking toward Angora Ridge, the forest is dead. Bare tree trunks rise from the snow like huge, blackened toothpicks.
It’s getting harder to keep hearing these stories. What these folks experienced was tragic and devastating, but at least their insurance replaced their home. There were a lot of people in Tahoe who lost their homes because they lost WORK after the fire. NOBODY was there to help them. Let’s move on, people.
Interesting. I don’t get depressed when I see the burn area. A lot of life has come back. Its amazing to see the resiliency of the forest.
Right on, Attendee! I drive through the burn area ever day and have been amazed at the life that has returned. The first season, the mule ears were gorgeous, and the progression of other species has continued. I’m not saying the forest can’t use a little help, but Earth does heal itself quickly and efficiently.
As a renter who lost everything on June 24th, 2007, I am truly offended by JoAnn’s un-enlightened comment.
We have had 2 housing bubbles in the last couple of years. The first bubble was caused by people who bought more house than they could realistically afford. Some of these people then used their home like an ATM as the equity increased. Greed and short-sightedness at every level caused the over priced, over financed housing market to collapse and for so many homes to go “upside down” with their mortgages.
The second housing bubble, the one we are in now, is caused by long term unemployment. These people have exhausted every option available to keep up with their mortgage payments, and now there is just no money left.
The people who lost their homes on June 24th had on idea what was about to happen to their lives in the matter of a few short hours. Because of the careless and irresponsible act of ANOTHER person, the lives of thousands of people were changed forever.
I suspect that JoAnn did not loose her home in the Angora fire. If she fits into one of the other 2 groups is irrelevant to me. Her comment was hurtful and ill-conceived. But I would like to apologies to her for having my home burn down that day, I’m sorry it has been such a burden on her.
JoAnn’s comment was wrong.
It was hard for a lot of people who lost their homes. Sure maybe a lot of people had help from the insurance companies, and I know I have heard of some stories where residents had problems with insurance companies and contractors too! Some people didn’t have enough time to get out with much but their lives, and memories were lost that insurance money cannot replace.