Unsung Heroes
Friends Helping Friends During the Cedar Fire
by Jim Evans

Jim Birdsell, an unsung hero of the Cedar firestorm.

Webster’s Dictionary
defines heroism as "heroic
behavior or
having heroic attributes —
especially courage."

It is easy to conclude from this definition that there were many heroes from Julian during the Cedar Fire, and their heroism was displayed in many different ways. Local residents cooked meals, opened their homes, volunteered their time, donated clothing and contributed in myriad ways to help each other during this crisis.

While it is impossible to acknowledge all of Julian’s heroes, perhaps one group of men can be recognized for putting their lives on the line in the early stages of the fire. For more than 29 hours straight, they tirelessly cut line, created fire breaks, started backfires and fought the flames to save several homes in the community.

They would undoubtedly say they weren’t really "heroes" — that they were only doing what anyone else would do under the circumstances to help their
neighbors — but let’s not let them off the hook that easily.

Who are these knights in grimy armor, anyway?

The big guy in the photo is Jim Birdsell, and his gregarious smile and big shoulders will have to
represent all of his buddies who are not pictured, but Jim would
be the first to say that what they did was a real team effort. Not
pictured are Frank Martinez Sr; John Ferguson; Ken Mushet; David Lewis; Jerry Fry; Rees Skinner; Guy Biggs; Jack Biggs; Frank Martinez Jr.; and Bill Gillespie.

Some of these fellows came over from Chula Vista to help their friends fight the fire because they know that the others would do
the same for them. But it doesn’t matter where they are from, because the community has
adopted them anyway and is proud to call them "hometown" boys.

Hats off to our unsung heroes!