CLEARLAKE > >In 2017, Habitat for Humanity Lake County, in conjunction with the Home Depot Foundation’s Veteran Repair Program, installed a 12-foot lift for disabled Army Veteran Al Plyley to allow him access in and out of his Clearlake Park home. Little could anyone know how valuable the lift would prove to be.
On the night of the Sulphur Fire, Plyley woke up when the alarm on his CPAP went off, alerting him to the electricity being off in his home. The battery backup failed, forcing Al to get out of bed to investigate. He turned on his scanner and began to dress: that was when the first reports of a fire on Sulphur bank came in.
By the time he was fully dressed, the fire was reported to have reached 75 acres, prompting Plyley to load his valuables into a laundry basket, catch his cat, and get out of his home.
With only one way in and out of his street, he knew evacuation would be necessary. The new lift allowed him to get himself, his valuables, and his cat out of his home before the danger set in.
After a night spent in his car at Austin Park, Habitat for Humanity staff tracked Plyley down to make sure he had gotten out safely. He spent two nights in the Habitat office before finding a hotel room for the remainder of the evacuation.
As residents were allowed back to the area, Plyley was sure he would not have a home to return. An investigation by Habitat staff, however, revealed that his house still stood, with only minor damage sustained to the exterior of the structure and the loss of two sheds. It was later learned that one of Habitat’s many volunteers, along with a couple of friends, knew of the work that Habitat had done for the veteran and were the individuals responsible for saving Plyley’s home.
“I’m lucky the house was saved, and that Habitat’s kindness and generosity allowed me to get out and have a place to go,” Plyley said. “They helped me when I didn’t know what else to do; I’m very grateful for everything they’ve done to help me.”
To support the work Habitat for Humanity does in Lake County, either through donating or by volunteering, visit www.lakehabitat.org, call the office at 707-994-1100 or visit the office at 15312 Lakeshore Dr., Clearlake.
