Fire disaster once again struck the Crest community in 2003. The Cedar Fire, a human-caused wildfire driven by Santa Ana winds, resulted in the largest fire recorded in California history. In San Diego County, some 280,000 acres burned, 15 people died, and 2,232 homes were lost. The Crest statistics were grim. Of Crest’s 1,100 plus homes, 290 homes were lost including the Crest Clubhouse (the former La Cresta Clubhouse). There were 327 displaced families. Twenty-seven families were uninsured and many more were underinsured.

Betty Lucas, editor of The Crest Sun, wrote the following regarding the Cedar Fire:
“Early on that Sunday morning, smoke was visible from the fire that started in the Ramona area. It spread to Scripps Ranch area, and many of us thought it was far away. We watched the news, and as the sky darkened, we became concerned. We conferred with neighbors and started packing our cars with what was important to us. Or, we thought, we will only be gone for a few hours and packed very little. Horses and house pets were gathered. From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. neighbors with motorhomes and cars or trucks towing boats paraded by. There was a steady stream of traffic, two lanes, going down the hill backed up as far as St. Louise Church. It took about an hour, more in some cases, to get ‘down the hill.’

Some people stayed, foolish or brave? You decide; they worked with garden hoses or water trucks that they used in their businesses and fought to save neighbors’ houses. Our house was one of them.

In the late afternoon, Crest was on fire. Those of us leaving the hill moved in with family and friends or went from motel to motel looking for a place to stay. Some went to shelters. We watched anxiously while the fire moved from the east to the south then the west side of the mountain.

Monday morning we were scrambling for news of our homes and our friends. Some people came up through trails; others tried to get up La Cresta Road but were turned back by sheriffs and CHP officers. The air was smoky and full of falling ashes. We were advised to wear masks to protect our lungs. Cell phone contact with people that we knew were on the hill gave reports of houses saved and houses burned.

On Tuesday morning, when it was announced that La Cresta Road was opened to residents, there was a caravan of anxious people returning to homes or no homes. What we saw for the first time was destruction. Whole streets of houses were reduced to ashes. Father Robert Irwin, pastor of St. Louise Church, while staying in a motel in El Cajon, had been busy contacting people and organizations and by Tuesday afternoon, had a relief area set up at the Parish Hall. They brought in hot meals and grief counselors to talk to residents. Shadow Mountain Church appeared within a day to provide clothing to those who lost homes. Crest Elementary School and Community Church were distribution centers for donated items. Within days dozens of agencies were on hand to lend a helping hand.

The rebuilding process was incredibly emotional, complicated, and slow. Over 180 children immediately disappeared from the Crest School rosters having to relocate with their families to other communities.

Crest Resource Center 2003-2006
A double-wide trailer was set up in Nancy Jane Park to act as a resource recovery center for the community after the fire. Many groups stepped up to assist the Crest community. Linda Chase, director for the community’s reconstruction, Jackie Grace, and many other volunteers ran the center daily to help the burn victims through the complicated and painful process of rebuilding. A large portion of the community was found to be underinsured.

Organizations utilizing the building included the Crest Community Association, Friends of Crest, the Sub-Regional Planning Group, Kiwanis, the San Diego County Firestorm Recovery Team, the Christian Reform World Relief Committee (volunteers rebuilding houses with volunteer labor), San Diego Youth and Community Services, and the Salvation Army, to name a few. The Crest Coordinating Committee for Fire Recovery was the driving force behind Crest’s progress. Local citizens and survivors created this organization and in so doing, took control of the community’s future.

October 2004 – A year after the fire, a gathering was held in Nancy Jane Park. About 300 people attended to reflect on the struggles and triumphs of the past, to listen to music, and to break ground on a new community center. At this point, 23 of the 290 homes (out of Crest’s 1000 homes) lost to the blaze had been rebuilt. An additional 147 of the homes destroyed in the fire were in some stage of rebuilding. The event was a celebration of the community’s determined spirit. One resident shared, “Most of the town’s residents have helped in some way with the rebuilding efforts. A tighter sense of community is seen in the already close-knit town.”

Crest Kiwanis Established in 2003

Born from the ashes of the Cedar Fire, Crest Kiwanis formed so that it could be of service to our community. Many of the members lost their homes, and Kiwanis offered mutual support and focus for rebuilding our community. Today the Crest Kiwanis continues to support the community schools by raising money through monthly breakfasts and other fundraising activities.

2003 Fire Destroys Crest Clubhouse 

The Crest Community Association Clubhouse was one of the victims of the 2003 Cedar Fire. On October 24, 2004 a ground breaking ceremony took place with Phil and Debbie Goettsch once again leading the com-munity in a fantastic volunteer effort. The building, like most structures in Crest, was underinsured.  However, with existing insurance and monetary assistance from Supervisor Dianne Jacob’s office, Crest Kiwanis, and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a beautiful, unique timber frame structure came to life. The building was obtained from Cascade Joinery out of Bellingham, Washington.

The roof structure was a timber frame with a tongue and groove wood ceiling. The timber frame was scheduled for delivery on October 31st and installed in the beginning of November 2005.

The roof and timber frame were built in Washington State, disassembled, and then transported to Crest where the assembly started all over again. As the roof was lifted into the air, Crest residents came to take pictures of the event. Workers quickly raised the walls to fit under the roof. Phil wanted everybody to have a good time as well as enjoy the experience of creating a community building.  He told the crew that he wasn’t going to shave or cut his hair until the building got “final.” Good thing his hair grows very slowly.

Phil asked for volunteers and donated items everywhere he went. He was great at getting volunteers from Palomar College; over 90% of our volunteers came from there to help. No one knows for sure how he did that; maybe a project grade? Phil also managed to get the most amazing items donated. Because of his talent, we have a valuable building built for less than half the cost if we had contracted the work out. The highlight of the 4th of July, 2006 activities was the stream of people entering the new CCA Community Clubhouse to check out the progress.

July 7, 2008 was a big day for Crest as we celebrated the dedication of our new community clubhouse. The Goettsch family and all volunteers can be proud of their accomplishments. There were about 200 people attending the festivities and County Supervisor Dianne Jacob presented CCA with a proclamation which is now hanging in the new building. The new sign for the clubhouse was crafted by resident Glen Weischedel, whose grandparents, Alma and Glen Miller, were early settlers in Crest.