Cloverdale comes together for couple who lost home in Rocky fire

When Wayne and Judy Fischer lost their house, most of their belongings and two dogs in the Rocky fire, it was not surprising that Cloverdale residents would come to their aid during their time of need.

After all, the community has been there for the family in the past. Citizens donated money and provided moral support for the Fischer’s daughter, Shannan Wirt, as she and her husband, Dan, battled cancer. Shannan died in 2009 from the disease.

They were there to help the Wirts’ son, Wayne, as he suffered from Wegener’s disease, which mimics kidney cancer, including a relapse in 2008.

And on Sunday, less than a month after the Fischers lost their home in the first day of the massive Rocky fire, friends, relatives and residents of Cloverdale - more than an hour’s drive from the burn area in Lake County - came together again for the family. More than 400 turned out at the Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds for a charity event meant to help the couple rebuild.

“It’s a great little community and they always pull together and help,” Judy Fischer said. “Cloverdale is a wonderful town.”

Though the Fischers have lived for 25 years near Lower Lake south of Clear Lake, their roots in Cloverdale are deep because their three daughters went to high school there and some of their 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren reside in the area.

“If you asked anybody here why they are here, they will tell you these people have touched my life in this way or that way,” said Kaela Herrera, a close friend of one of the Fischers’ grandchildren who helped organize the benefit.

Many of the grandchildren have played on various sports teams in the area, Herrera said.

The Fischers were lucky to escape the blaze on July 29 as they fled their home off Morgan Valley Road about seven miles east of Lower Lake. Twice before within the past 15 years, the couple had stayed during nearby wildfires, and they were prepared to do it again for the Rocky fire.

Judy was over at the nearby house of her daughter, Wendie McRae, as the fire neared that home. The wildfire then changed direction as the wind shifted and headed back toward the Fischers’ house.

As the blaze approached, the Fischers along with their other daughter, Trudie, quickly got in a car and a pickup and fled.

“We thought we were safe then, but the fire came back in two directions and converged right below our house. It was like a firestorm coming to our house. We just managed to save one dog and the clothes on backs and we got the heck out,” Wayne Fischer said. “We just got out of there in the nick of time.”

The Fischers lined up a rental house in Lower Lake and were about to move in to that residence when a second Lake County blaze, the Jerusalem fire, forced them to evacuate that home.

“The fire never hit. Fortunately, we were still in the hotel (at the time). We hadn’t moved into the house,” Wayne Fischer said.

Sunday’s event featured three musical acts, including Ukiah country singer McKenna Faith, a bounce house and a silent auction for items such as wine, olive oil, jewelry and a 30-day yoga pass. Proceeds from the auction and a $25-per-ticket dinner will benefit the family.

A separate GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $8,000 as of Sunday.

The couple’s insurance adjuster is set to report back in about three weeks on compensation from their homeowner policy, said Wayne Fischer, who ?worked in the construction industry when he lived in Cloverdale, including on Del Webb’s Clover Springs retirement community.

The couple lost their house, garage and a cabin on their 160-acre property. Forty-three residences in total were destroyed in the 69,438-acre Rocky fire, which was fully contained Aug. 14.

Wayne Fischer said he expects the policy will not cover the entire cost of rebuilding, so the donations are greatly appreciated.

“It’s going to take several months up to a year to rebuild,” Wayne said.

For her part, Judy said it was difficult to put into words her feelings for the Cloverdale community.

“Thank you is not enough. You just can’t explain it. We’re just so grateful. We know almost everyone here personally,” she said.

You can reach Staff Writer Bill Swindell at 521-5223 or bill.swindell@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @BillSwindell.