On Sunday evening, Aug. 14, as the Clayton Fire came over the hills from the south and began to descend towards her acre of property on Main St. in the heart of downtown Lower Lake, Starr Skidmore stood just behind the auto shop which she and her husband, Michael, built and have operated for many years. There, behind the shop, she had a water hose turned on and was watering down their grandchild’s wood framed jungle gym, slide and swing set; in hopes of saving it from the encroaching fire.
While she was watering the play set, a fire truck drove up the cul-de-sac beside their shop and continued past their three bedroom home and the nine cabins they’d lovingly restored after purchasing the property in 2002.
“The fire truck pulled in. Within a minute they turned around. They were pulling me off the property saying it’s indefensible,” Starr recounted.
The fire then swept down and consumed their home and nine rental cabins. But her grandchild’s wood framed play set wasn’t touched even though the leaves on the tree sheltering the set have withered from the heat as the blaze burst through to Main St. and beyond.
Now, a week and a half after the fire, Starr stood in the office of their shop, “4 Starr Auto Repair,” their only remaining building, thanks to the efforts of the firefighters who had snuffed out flames which had begun to burn inside a corner of their shop.
Behind where she was now standing, there is a small room next to a bathroom that had been a waiting room for customers to relax in a couch or chair. But now it serves as a temporary bedroom for the Skidmores.
“This place has a ‘vibe’”, Starr conveyed, indicating the vibe of empowerment that she felt is right in the spot where she was standing; which is the spot in the center of both the Skidmores livelihood as well as their current dwelling.
From this spot, the Skidmores will rally and rebuild. “I’m not a quitter. We’re not going away. We can do this all over again; but we need to build a house for ourselves first,”she confirmed.”My husband is thinking of replacing the cabins with duplexes. In that way,we’ll be helping to provide a place for those who still want to live in Lower Lake. We had great tenants( among them was a local truant officer and a county adult services employee).”
The Skidmores, who lost all of their personal possessions including their clothing, have received about 30 offers of help from their friends, neighbors and customers in the Lower Lake Community. “They’re so loving,” Starr declared of the Lower Lake community, “That’s who we are —— people who care!”
Over the years the Skidmores have done a lot for their town and neighbors. For example in a field behind their shop they’ve provided a place for Carle High School students to play paint ball. “We built a $800 fence and bought a $3,000 shed to house their equipment,” Starr said, pointing to the melted shed.
She points to another foundation in rubble,”This was a one bedroom cabin. It was so pretty. My mom lived in that one for ten years.” Then Starr pointed to another foundation,”We joined two cabins to create a three bedroom home for ourselves. They’re all gone now, aren’t they?” she exclaimed in disbelief.
Back inside the office of their shop a photo montage is framed on the wall that shows the metamorphosis their property took from 2002 when they closed escrow, until four years later in 2006 when the restoration was finished, adorned with white picket fences in front of each cabin.
By her telephone in their office, the phone book was open to the government office pages, “Today I called every one of them, The President, the Vice-President, my Senators, my Congressmen … all the way down to the local level,” she said in exasperation.
Not one government office could offer her help.
Although their shop was insured, they were unable to find an insurance agent that would insure their home and cabins. This is a common story among many who lost their homes in the numerous Lake County fires. The Skidmores were unaware that the California State Commissioner’s Office has a “Fair Plan” which will insure anyone that has been denied homeowners insurance by three different insurance agencies. Now the California State Legislature is pushing through a bill which will require insurance agents to disclose the “Fair Plan” to clients they turn away.
Up until now the “Fair Plan” has been a well kept secret.
An allegedly functioning fire hydrant with an out of service tag on it perhaps would have made a difference — or not. Indeed it seems a moot point.
“It wouldn’t have made a difference. That fire came so fast it was like a hurricane,” claimed Lower Lake Fire Marshal, Charlie Diener, “It was a massive fire fight. I’m sure all of the hydrants downtown were being used. We’re lucky even to have a downtown!”
Looking up and down Main St. where many commercial buildings have burned down, it’s clear that, thanks to the firefighters, it’s lucky the Skidmore’s 4 Starr Auto Repair is still standing.
And who knows, maybe a firefighter was looking out for that play set too.
The Skidmores hope to reopen their shop in few weeks after doing some cleaning and repairs, as well as taking a little time off to recuperate. Firefighters have been called upon to do a lot for Lake County over the past two years. But Lake County residents themselves deserve some recognition, particularly for the care and resilience they show in every crisis.
Dennis Purcell is a Kelseyville resident
