By ELIZABETH LARSON
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — On Saturday night, a small group of people hard hit by the Cache fire were taking refuge at a newly opened evacuation shelter in Clearlake and voicing their gratitude at being alive in the midst of having lost their homes.
Clearlake city officials worked with the Red Cross to set up the shelter at the city’s senior and community center at 3245 Bowers Ave.
The center — equipped with solar power, a large commercial kitchen and a shower trailer with four bathroom stalls — also had an area set up outside for pets. There were several small dogs on leashes and in kennels.
The evacuation shelter had previously been located at Kelseyville High School and Twin Pine Casino in Middletown.
Earlier in the day, in a development that had caught the city of Clearlake off guard, the county of Lake decided to abruptly close the shelter in Middletown, citing small numbers of evacuees.
Evacuee Christina Thomas said they were told Saturday afternoon they were leaving the casino.
By Saturday evening, a Lake Transit bus that had apparently helped transport some evacuees was in the parking lot behind the building and more evacuees were arriving by their own vehicles, packed with what belongings they had left.
As the shelter setup was complete, a bright, smoky-orange sun set behind Mount Konocti, which was soon followed by a bright orange full moon that rose over the hills.
As shelter guests got their bearings, some took the opportunity for the first time in days to get a hot shower before settling in for the night.
Shelter officials said they were set up for 20 evacuees, with about 16 registered.
After several days of exhaustion and confusion, even with the lights on and shelter workers moving around the building to finish setup, some evacuees were on their cots, fast asleep amid the bustle.
Tucked off in the corner, sitting on his cot next to a window in the main room was Gust Jordan, who gave a friendly wave.
He was wearing a large wooden rosary around his neck, a Red Cross blanket next to him, and bags of snacks and Red Cross supply bags on the floor next to his bed. The beds arranged nearby were for several of his family members.
Jordan, who formerly worked in agriculture in Tulare County, moved to Clearlake a year ago. He was living with wife, Christina, one of their daughters and her husband and three grandchildren in a trailer in Creekside Mobile Home Park. Also living nearby were several members of their extended family.
Christina Jordan said that, altogether, her family lost five homes — including the one she and Gust shared, one belonging to her parents, and three others belong to aunts and uncles.
Her aunt, Christina Thomas, who lived in Creekside for 10 years, was the only one whose home survived.
At first, they weren’t sure if they should leave because of the fire. “We did this so many times,” Gust Jordan said of previous fires, noting this felt like another situation of crying wolf.
However, shortly after the fire started, it became apparent that they needed to leave.
Christina Jordan said the fire moved very fast. “It was so windy,” she said, noting her uncle told her they needed to leave.
Gust Jordan said his wife grabbed a box of important papers as they prepared to leave. In their quick departure, they didn’t take his medications or other important items.
The residents were all in a hurry to get out of the park. “Everybody was jumping in their cars,” said Thomas.
Police escorted them out. “They were not asking,” but telling them to leave, Gust Jordan said.
By the time they were leaving, the fire had jumped the road, he said.
They and other family members did what many other evacuees did — they went to the nearby Walmart to wait and see what was happening.
Asked how long they’ll have to stay at the shelter, he said, “I have no idea.”
The Jordans said their daughter and her family were staying in a hotel, rather than the shelter.
Christina Jordan’s parents, Richard and Yolanda Maldonado, also were staying at the shelter on Saturday.
Richard Maldonado said their home was destroyed, and he’s now seeking help with finding housing from the Department of Veterans Affairs. He served in the US Marine Corps from 1956 to 1959.
The Maldonados had lived at Creekside Mobile Home Park for the last two years, and had also lived there previously. Richard Maldonado said they had been evacuated in 2015 due to that year’s fires.
He said they had to evacuate within 20 minutes of the Cache fire starting.
That wasn’t an easy task, as Richard Maldonado currently has to use a wheelchair.
The Maldonados also went to Walmart to wait to see what was going to happen. They were there about an hour to an hour and a half before they were directed to Kelseyville High School, where an evacuation shelter was set up shortly after the fire began.
They and their other family members stayed there until they were told to move to Twin Pine Casino in Middletown on Thursday. Gust Jordan said he lost $40 at the casino. However, he happily recalled a visit from Pastor Aaron York of Jesus Christ Fellowship.
By Saturday afternoon, they were told they were to move again, family members said.
On Saturday night, none of the family members had an idea of how long they would have to stay at the shelter.
In addition to the uncertainty, there is also the emotional toll.
“I don’t think I got any feelings yet,” Richard Maldonado said of the situation, adding he was glad everyone got out alive.
Thomas said that since her home still stands, she intends to share it with her family. “That’ll work.”
“We’re alive,” Christina Jordan said. “That’s all that matters.”
Email Elizabeth Larson at elarson@lakeconews.com. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.