Thanks to the quick thinking of our Regional Public Affairs Manager, Joe Gabaldon, and the fast action of Community Resiliency Advisor, Robyn Brookshire the temporary evacuation center in Pine Valley didn’t have to close its doors during the recent Border 32 Fire.

“During August’s devastating Border 32 Fire, Mountain Empire High School was serving as an evacuation site and through conversation with local officials and agency stakeholders, I found out that the high school’s air conditioning system shut down during one of the hottest days of the year,” said Gabaldon, “and the evacuation center was going to be closed due to lack of air conditioning in 108°F conditions.” 

That’s when Gabaldon quickly responded by contacting our Fire Science and Climate Adaptation Manager, Mark Mezta, and Community Resiliency Advisor, Robyn Brookshire to coordinate the delivery and installation of portable AC units for the Pine Valley evacuees.  

Brookshire said that she “was determined to help the community as quickly and efficiently as possible” so, without hesitation, she and her husband, a qualified contractor, personally delivered and installed the portable AC units. 

A backcountry resident herself, Brookshire shared, “helping people is what I strive to do every day. It’s important to me, my family, and SDG&E that we continue to care for our communities. It made me feel good knowing that community members were extremely grateful that we were there and able to cool down the evacuation center during one of the hottest days of the year.” 

Supervisor Joel Anderson expressed, “I am beyond grateful to the SDG&E team for their swift action, and to Robyn Brookshire’s selfless and unyielding dedication to supporting our displaced community members. We are lucky to have a great partnership with SDG&E – which is paramount to quickly and effectively responding to devastating disasters like the Border 32 Fire.”