Invisible Chamois


 

Family News

Two of a Kind Fight Fires at Pio Pico

The Harris wildfire came dangerously close to Southern California’s Pio Pico Preserve last October. The wildfire, which had consumed 90,000 acres throughout the region, might have destroyed the preserve had it not been for the tireless efforts of Preserve Manager Roy Barata and retired Manager Dave Povey.

“It was thanks to Roy and Dave’s selfless work that Pio Pico is still a campground that members can enjoy,” Western Regional Vice President Mike Beckelhymer said. “The preserve was completely evacuated, but those two stayed at the park to protect it.”

Dave Povey, a former manager at the Oakzanita Springs and Pio Pico preserves, retired four years ago following 25 years of service with Thousand Trails. After being forced to evacuate their own house in the local area, Dave and his wife Sue decided they would stay at the Pio Pico Preserve until it was safe to return home. Those plans changed, however, when the preserve received a mandatory-evacuation notice. Sue went to stay with a relative in San Diego and Dave decided to stay at the park to help Roy.

Over a 48-hour period, Roy and Dave were racing against the fire nonstop, running and driving from one end of the park to the other with shovels and a back hoe. They battled the fires with fire hoses and shovels of dirt, cutting fire breaks where they could. On several occasions, when the flames grew larger than they could handle, they called in the Dulzura Fire Department, which had also been working around the clock. The firefighters would come in for an hour or two to help Roy and Dave, then rush off to fight more fires elsewhere.

“I visited the park on November 12th and was amazed to see how close the fire had come,” Beckelhymer said. “The fire had literally burned to the property line, around the entire property and up to several buildings.”

During his visit to the preserve, Beckelhymer said numerous members stopped him to say that Roy was their personal hero for saving their property. “We can’t say enough about Roy and Dave’s dedication and commitment to Thousand Trails,” Beckelhymer said. “It was truly amazing, and there are so many people who are grateful for what they did.”

The minimal damage to the preserve included the loss of two vehicles in the storage yard, and scorched trees and shrubs. Dave Povey was also fortunate in that his house survived the fires as well.

Hats off to Dave and Roy and the hard-working Dulzura Fire Department!