Boys Town California
California Children and Families Safe After Evacuating Trabuco Canyon Homes
Boys Town California children and families returned safely to their homes in Trabuco Canyon Oct. 29 after being away for nearly a week as a result of the devastating wildfires.
One of the worst wildfires in California’s history destroyed thousands of homes and forced the evacuations of many more. It also saw the Boys Town California community come together to help severely at-risk children forced from their homes.
"We are very thankful for the tremendous outpouring of support we received,” said Keith Rhodes, Boys Town California Executive Director, who also evacuated his own home before returning safely. “We owe special gratitude to the community and the Orange County support fire teams."
Forced to evacuate Oct. 23, Family-Teachers and children spent three nights at Stone Creek Church in nearby Rancho Santa Margarita. Family-Teachers and youth waited anxiously to learn the fate of their homes before spending the weekend at Boys Town’s Lennar Assessment and Short-Term Residential Center in East Rancho Dominguez near Compton.
“Our Family-Teachers did an outstanding job maintaining a routine for the children,” said Neda Zaengle, Boys Town California Program Operations Manager. “It was very important keeping them entertained indoors because of very poor air quality.”
Though the Trabuco Canyon homes were unsafe to house children and families during the evacuation, they did serve an important role at the height the wildfires. Several fire trucks parked outside the cul-de-sac in front of the homes, and firefighters used the homes to rest. When the homes were deemed safe to return, firefighters cleaned them and left a pumpkin and a note on the front step of Tilly’s Baby Home, wishing the children well and thanking them for allowing them a place to rest.
A difficult week that saw the best in the Boys Town spirit ended with a big sigh of relief upon returning to the homes and school. “Everyone is just really happy to be back home,” said Zaengle.
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