Following the fire disaster in California, USA on 21-29 October 2007, a vast number of houses and farms was destroyed. The damage is evident from the northern to southern parts of the state, covering a large area of 488,099 acres or 1,220,247.5 rais.
The damaged area is located in a hot and windy climate zone, making it easy for fire to spread. The windstorm was moving at 100 miles an hour. As a result, fire erupted in more than 15 spots. More than 50 people were hurt. More than one million people were evacuated from 346,000 residences.
As firemen and police officers were working to contain the damage, smoke and flammable elements remained in some areas. On 1 November 2007, Ven. Phrarajbhavanavisudh, president of the Dhammakaya Foundation, sent staff from Wat Dhammakaya California to the damaged area to offer help to the fire victims.
This involved a lot of coordination between the temple’s staff and US government agencies as there was never a foreign charity that offered such help to disaster victims in the States.
Amara Bunjongsiri contacted a food supplier to buy 50,000 cups of semi-ready noodles at a special price. Mr. Bush Cze contacted a government agency in San Diego to bring food supplies to the fire victims. In the process, he had to bring samples of the food to the officers who investigated the food supplies to ensure they were safe.
After all the coordination work
was completed, Ven. Bavornjetiyarak, vice abbot of the Phratatchanghai
Temple, Ven. Hanchai Asabhakanto, assistant to the abbot of Wat
Dhammakaya California, Mr. Bush Cze, a permanent member of the
Republican Party, and Ms. Neeni Kaevalin, Mr. Wiwat Faengsrikham,
Mr. Piyapat Pintupan and Mr. Cliffland travelled to the
damaged area to present the aid in Ramona City where the number
of victims was highest. The fire damaged more than 197,990 acres
or 494,975 rais, burning 1,266 structures of which 1,061 were
houses. Twenty-two people lost their lives in the fire.
The team left Wat Dhammakaya California early in the morning as the aid presentation was scheduled at 1000 hours. However, due to heavy traffic and the fact that several roads were closed, the team actually handed the aid at about 1300 hours. Mr. Bush Cze represented the team and presented the aid to Mr. Danny, who oversees the donations to the fire victims in this area. Mr. Danny expressed thanks and appreciation for the Dhammakaya Foundation’s assistance.
