The Harris Fire in southeastern San Diego County has forced hundreds of people to find shelter at a Youth Center on the campus of Chula Vista High School. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has more on the efforts to take care of those people.
Generous people have been dropping off supplies for the emergency shelter - so many supplies that local officials say they have all they need. Frank Carson is with the Chula Vista Recreation Department. He's serving as the coordinator at the evacuation center.
Carson: We tend to be also a place, a transitional place for many people that have been displaced from their homes. Meaning they come in here, they grab what they need, like water, sleeping materials, they may get something to eat and then go on to another location.
He says they have three animal control officers at the center round the clock helping with cats and dogs. Carson says anyone looking for a place to go or other places to stay can stop by the center.
Carson: This is still an option for them. We do have other people that come in here and notify us that they have a home and if people are interested to contact them. So even if people don't think they want to stay here but they're looking for an alternative site they can come in here and inquire about that as well.
Seventeen-year-old Sean Parades and his family were forced to evacuate from their Bonita area home. He says the fires taught him a valuable lesson.
Parades: Don't take anything for granted because anything can change in a matter of seconds.
Ed Joyce, KPBS News.
