Signs of Hope Emerge from the Franklin Fire [Video]
Chris Queen : Dec 16, 2024
PJ Media
"I am grateful to God that He spared Pepperdine and this cross that burned down during the Woolsey fire and had to be replaced. Somehow He spared it, as if He wanted us to have something tangible to hold onto to help us through the difficulty we just went through." -a Pepperdine University official
[PJMedia.com] The Franklin Fire has ravaged Malibu, California. As of Sunday, the fire has burned 4,037 acres, destroyed 19 structures, and damaged 27. Crews have contained it to 42%, and evacuation orders are now just warnings. Residents have repopulated their homes, yet some parks and other areas are still closed. (Screengrab image: via X-Tyler LaTorre)
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One of the localities that the fire has affected is Pepperdine University. The unique geography on the campus of the private Christian university has the school handling emergencies like the fire in a different way.
"Evacuating a large population during a fast-moving wildfire can create additional risks, including exposure to hazardous conditions on congested roads," said Michael Friel, the school's senior director of Communications and Public Relations. "The Malibu campus is situated along Pacific Coast Highway, which can become a choke point during regional evacuations."
"Another challenge is timing. Wildfires often move rapidly, leaving little time to safely evacuate thousands of students and staff," Friel said. "By sheltering in place, we can keep everyone accounted for and in a secure environment."
Students hunkered down on campus as the fire raged around them. But there was an encouraging symbol of hope for the school and the region: a cross that sits atop the mountain at the end of a hiking trail on campus survived the fire.
The Woolsey Fire destroyed the original cross in that location, and a fraternity replaced the cross later that year. The frat says that the paint on the wooden cross and the smaller crosses surrounding it is waterproof but not fireproof, "which shows how impressive (it) is that they are still standing strong," as Fox Weather reports.
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"I am grateful to God that he spared Pepperdine and this cross that burned down during the Woolsey fire and had to be replaced," one university official said. "Somehow He spared it, as if He wanted us to have something tangible to hold onto to help us through the difficulty we just went through."
Indeed, not only did the fire spare the cross—the ultimate symbol of hope—but the trail also remained largely untouched... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here
Read this article in its entirety, and watch the video Here.