All evacuation orders and road closures were lifted in Alpine, as fire crews get closer to fully surrounding the West Fire that started on Friday.
The fire has scorched at least 505 acres and destroyed 34 homes.
As neighbors slowly return home, they are assessing the damage.
“I love this neighborhood and I love the people,” Friederike von Lintig said as she walked along her fire-ravaged street.
Von Lintig wasn’t home when the fire started. She was worried that her dog, Momo, was trapped in the inferno. County Animal Services rescued Momo, and von Lintig eventually tracked him down at the animal shelter.
“And my daughter found him, and I started crying,” von Lintig said as she fought back tears. “Oh my god, my dog means so much to me.”
Now von Lintig is looking to help her neighbors who’ve lost everything.
“This is the worst, absolutely the worst,” Alpine resident Jeff Thomas said.
Thomas’ home was spared, but his brother-in-law’s home is destroyed.
“The wind was just blowing so hard that there was nothing you could do,” Thomas said. “He was able to get Fred his dog. Fred is ok, so that’s important, but everything else is gone.”
A helicopter is being used to repair damaged poles and San Diego Gas & Electric crews are working to complete repairs to the city’s power infrastructure.
As streets reopen in Alpine, neighbors are grateful for the job that firefighters and law enforcement have done.
Source: NBC San Diego
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