By Diane Lindquist, The San Diego Union-Tribune
“We’re just here to give thanks for the time they put in to save all our homes,” said Daniel Allen, who said firefighters saved two of his co-workers’ homes near Escondido.
The event, “San Diego Gives Thanks,” was underwritten at a cost of about $75,000 by Qualcomm Inc., other local companies and individual donors.
Carolyn Wormser, San Diego director of special events, said 3,000 to 4,000 people were in attendance.
Firefighters, police and Border Patrol received thanks from the crowd after marching into Qualcomm Stadium.
“It would have been nicer to have 50,000, but these things are very spontaneous,” San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy said afterward.
For those who turned out, it was a chance to get up close and personal with about 500 firefighters and law enforcement officials from throughout San Diego County and Tijuana.
On the concourse outside the stadium, adults and children scrambled on equipment and sat in vehicles used to fight the fires. Firefighters shook hands, received hugs, gave autographs and had their pictures taken with grateful residents.
“I’m sure they’re glad to be here,” San Diego Fire Chief Jeff Bowman said of the firefighters. “But I’m sure they have mixed feelings. ... They’re paid to save homes, not see them go up in flames.”
The latest damage assessment reports say the number of residences saved within the fire lines and up to a quarter-mile from the perimeter of the Paradise and Cedar fires totaled 361,803, said Division Chief Bill Clayton of the California Department of Forestry. More than 2,400 homes were burned.
Sixteen people are known to have died in the fires.
“If we had not had the cooperation of all the fires departments in the state and across the country and the people of San Diego, there’s no question more people would have died,” San Diego County Sheriff Bill Kolender said.
Kolender and Bowman have been named co-chairmen of a task force to determine ways to improve the county’s emergency response to massive fires and other disasters. They are expected to issue a final report in about 180 days.
The focus yesterday was on firefighters and law enforcement officials.
With an outburst of fireworks, they paraded onto the Qualcomm field along a cordoned path with applauding adults and children on either side. They were greeted by signs, balloons, flags, handshakes and high-fives.
Thirteen-year-old Jesse Beason of El Cajon, who lost his home in the fires, sang “One Voice” from a stage on the field.
Tammy Forshee of North Park, who came with her daughter Emerald, 10, said she regretted the losses suffered in the fires but wanted to share in celebrating those who fought them.
“We have a lot to be thankful for,” Forshee said.
In a separate incident, a group of five young men were detained and forced to leave the stadium after they distributed fliers that accused the mayor of not providing adequate firefighting resources, a member of the group said.
A police spokesman said no record of the incident was available last night.