SAN DIEGO -
A total of 15 named fires raged across the region last week, six of which were in San Diego County. Despite reports of more than 950,000 California residents evacuated, and losses of more than 2,400 homes and businesses, as of Oct. 24 investigations by the Credit Union Journal and the California Credit Union League found no reports of damage to credit union branches, or losses to members' or employees' homes. While the fires may not have caused direct damage, many credit unions had closed main offices and branches last week as the result of power outages, evacuation orders, and the inability of personnel to get to work.
Relief efforts and programs to raise funds for victims are ongoing. The California league and the National Credit Union Foundation have activated an online disaster relief system at www.cuaid.coop.
San Diego County Hardest Hit
At press time, decreasing fire danger allowed many credit unions here to reopen their branches after hundreds of closures earlier in the week. Rob Folsom, chief strategy officer for USA FCU, which closed all but one of its branches on Oct. 22, told Credit Union Journal its Escondido branch remained in a mandatory evacuation area but all other branches were operational on Oct. 24.
"At no time have any of our structures been at risk, but many were in larger evacuation areas," Folsom explained. "We are still assessing our staff situation, but we have not yet heard of any members who lost homes. We are cross-checking addresses of homes lost versus our member rolls."
Neville Billimoria, a senior vice president for Mission FCU, said flames came close to several branches earlier in the week, forcing closures. Billimoria said all Mission FCU branches were open Oct. 24 with the exception of the Thornmint branch, which houses the CU's call center. He said call center functions had been moved to an alternate location.
Janet Madden, Mission FCU's SVP-human resources, said via e-mail the credit union's operations center in Rancho Bernardo closed Oct. 21, the first day of the fires, forcing employees into "any space we could find at our headquarters."
Other San Diego-area CUs reported a return to regular or near-regular operations as of Oct. 24, including: California Coast CU, North Island CU, San Diego Metropolitan CU and San Diego Firefighters FCU. California Feminist FCU remained open during the fires, while Point Loma Credit Union's five branches were closed at press time.
USE Credit Union's Mission Valley and La Mesa branches were open on Oct. 24, but all of its other San Diego branches remained closed. Cabrillo CU opened all branches except its Federal Building branch. Pacific Marine CU reported all branches open other than the one at Camp Pendleton, which was closed due to a new fire that sparked Oct. 24.
Other Cities Not Spared
In San Bernardino County, Arrowhead Credit Union closed its Crestline branch in the San Bernardino Mountains. The branch was not threatened by flames, but was closed due to power outages in the area. Some Arrowhead CU employees were evacuated from their homes.
Manhattan Beach-based Kinecta FCU's Malibu branch was closed thanks to the "Canyon" fire. The building reportedly was not damaged or threatened, but a power outage in the area forced the closure.
Kinecta's two branches in the Irvine area were not in any danger as of Oct. 24, but were being watched closely due to the proximity of the large "Santiago" fire.
Kinecta said its members and the general public may drop off clothing, shoes, and blankets at 10 of its branches. The donated items will be collected and forwarded to relief agencies.
