Evacuating Quickly, With Help From A Crystal Rosary

On Castle Rock Road in Diamond Bar, with orange flames flaring on the ridgetop above, Sandra Gastinell, 34, and her family packed up two black Toyota trucks, preparing to flee the encroaching fire. Sandra's 5-year-old daughter, Valeria, had been crying on and off all morning after hearing the family had to leave their two-story blond-colored home.
When she first heard the news, she ran and grabbed her crystal rosary and placed it around her neck. She panicked when we told her we had to leave, Sandra said. It's going to protect you, she soothed the child, bouncing her other daughter, Guiliani, who sucked noisily on a bottle of milk, in her arms.
Valeria packed her belongings in a pink suitcase sporting an image of Strawberry Shortcake and gold rosary bracelets the words It's all good, and the family placed it in the bed of their Toyota Tundra truck, where father Steve Gastinell was packing photo albums, rosary for children clothes, snacks and juice boxes for the trip to his father's house in Downey.
Sandra said they hoped a creek behind them would protect their house, but it's getting so close to the brush it was kind of scary. We're taking just what's absolutely necessary.
Also with the family was Sandra's father, Armando Yanes, 64, pearl rosary bracelet who is hard of hearing and speaks no English. They had picked him up the night before but had been unable to take him home to La Habra because of the fires. They were on the 5 Freeway for hours trying to get home themselves.
He's more nervous because the languagehearing issues make it harder for him to follow what's going onshe said.
--Gale Holland