In wake of fire, UCLA students reflect on close call with nature

Wednesday, October 23, 1996

MALIBU:

Town described as ’98 percent serenity, 2 percent sheer
terror’By Marie Blanchard

and Karen Duryea

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

The wildfires ravaging Los Angeles and Orange counties on Monday
hit especially close to home for several members of the UCLA
community.

The Malibu/Calabasas fire, one of many in the Southland that has
burned nearly 35,000 acres, jumped freeways as winds reached
approximately 70 mph, almost destroying the Russell family’s
home.

Katie Russell, a second-year undeclared student, feared her
house would be consumed by the flames. On Monday evening, she
watched nervously as media helicopters hovered over the fires near
her house, a few miles north of Pepperdine University.

"I was really shaky ­ I felt like I was about to lose my
mind," Russell said. "I had to go over to my friends’ room … they
did a good job of making me laugh."

But the house was not Russell’s main concern. What kept her on
the edge of her seat was that her father, Mike Russell, had left
work Monday afternoon to save the house, which had recently been
renovated.

"My dad went there (Monday) afternoon to spray the place down
with water. My mom begged him not to go," Russell said.

By 10 p.m., Russell did not know where her father was, what he
was doing or, most of all, if he was all right. The power and phone
lines were down, preventing communication both ways.

Tuesday morning, Russell spoke with her father, who had stayed
at their fire-threatened home all night, sleeping in the car once
the fire had backed off. She was relieved to hear that he was safe
­ and that their home was, too.

"The house has been in my family for about 50 years," she said.
"It was my grandfather’s.

"Losing it would be like losing a part of the family."

Russell’s fear brought back memories of a similar fire disaster
in Malibu three years ago where hundreds of houses were
destroyed.

Other UCLA students were also affected by the Southern
California fires this year, and in years past.

Greg Carpenter, a second-year undeclared student, stayed home on
Tuesday after watching the fire blazing only about half a mile away
from his house in Malibu Knolls.

"I could see the fire burning from my window," Carpenter
said.

Ironically, Carpenter’s family house burned down three years ago
in the 1993 fire and they had just finished rebuilding it in
August.

However, this time the area near the Carpenter house was
considered low risk from the Malibu flames.

Marilyn Baumeister, Malibu Knolls resident and mother of UCLA
student Daniel Paul Baumeister, was also worried Monday night as
the flames got near her home of 21 years.

"In 1993, the fire stopped 50 yards before the house. This time
we were in less danger, but I was still prepared to stay and fight
the fire with pool water and the hose," Marilyn Baumeister
said.

Yet, Monday’s fire in Malibu along with 1993’s blaze has not
deterred picturesque sea-view seeking residents.

"Malibu is 98 percent serenity and boredom. It’s 2 percent sheer
terror. It’s wonderful out here 98 percent of the time and during
that 2 percent you wonder, ‘Well, should I leave?’" Marilyn
Baumeister said.

Jeffrey Harris, a UCLA clinical pediatrics instructor who lost
his Malibu house in the 1993 fire, echoes the thought.

"Malibu is a beautiful place, unique to Los Angeles," he said.
"Everywhere, there are natural disasters; you just have to choose
which ones you want to face."

With reports from A.J. Harwin and Cecília Faissol, Daily
Bruin Contributors.