TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

TEHACHAPI -- As George Plesko sat under a tent at the evacuation center Wednesday, rattling off personal items that had burned to the ground in the West Fire near Tehachapi, people around him were moving about hastily.

Food, clothing, diabetes medication -- anything Tehachapi residents could bring him, they would.

So far, evacuees and community members say they've been largely impressed with -- and grateful for -- the emergency response efforts as firefighters continue battling the blaze in hot, dry and windy conditions.

The Kern Chapter of the American Red Cross has set up an evacuation center at a local junior high school, where about a dozen people stayed Tuesday night, shelter manager Lee Perryman said Wednesday.

Community Emergency Response Team workers helped evacuees as they arrived. Neighbors from the nearby community brought clothing and pet food. The Salvation Army served spaghetti, garlic bread and salad. Vouchers for household items were being offered to those whose homes had been destroyed in the fire.

"It's a horrible situation, but I'm so proud of Tehachapi," Red Cross volunteer Diane Arends said. "People are offering everything -- they came in and opened up their homes to strangers."

Said Merle Carnes, president of the Old West Ranch Property Owners Association, of emergency response officials and Tehachapi residents: "They'll make sure to take care of everyone. Everyone will check in on each other."

Holly Arnold, CEO of Kern Red Cross, said she is encouraged by the community's efforts.

"Not every community has this partnership environment," Arnold said. "It's been seamless and overflowing."

Arnold said the Red Cross response requires scores of volunteers, who make their way through phone lists of other volunteers, coordinate activities at the shelters and take donations.

"Our phones are going crazy," she said. "It's a big test, but our volunteers have really stepped up."

Arends said the organization's response trailer located outside the gymnasium was brought to Tehachapi from Bear Valley because the Bakersfield trailer had already been dispatched to the Bull Fire near Kernville when the West Fire began Tuesday afternoon.

Representatives from State Farm Insurance and Belfor USA, a national property restoration company, were on hand at the evacuation center Wednesday.

Belfor marketing officer Diane Randel said Wednesday she had spoken with a couple earlier that morning that didn't have fire insurance, which makes the recovery process very difficult.

"You have to have something planned," she said.

Arnold said she was thankful for the staggering amount of in-kind donations from local residents but also noted the importance of monetary contributions as time goes on.

"We try not to end up with 1,000 pizzas," she said. "When this rolls up, that's when we really go to work."