Raging wildfires have threatened populated areas in Southern California, leading to the evacuation of thousands of area residents including Christian music icon Rebecca St. James.
According to Reuters, nine fires spread throughout San Diego County this week, fueled by one of the worst droughts in California state history. The situation has led to the Governor's declaration of a state of emergency.
On Wednesday, St. James' team posted on her Facebook page that she had been evacuated from her home in the area.
"We may have lost our house and everything we own to a fire today," St. James was quoted as saying. "I saw the two-story flames a few hundred yards away. Please pray for us."
She said she got out of her home with daughter, Gemma, their dog and a baby book as police ordered her evacuation, and sought refuge at her in-laws' house, waiting to receive word regarding her home.
On Thursday, St. James returned home to find that largely, her home was intact, save a burst water pipe and a burnt tree in the front yard.
"Sound like the fire came right to our back fence," St. James said via Facebook. "It's a total miracle 'cause the wind changed right when the fires were about to take over our house. You can see the proof when you look at where the fire stopped, 3 feet from our back fence. The fire was a two- to three-story wall of flame, only meters away from our home!"
St. James said that some of her neighbors stayed to help fight the fire, "which is a big reason why most of the houses on our street were saved." One neighbor three doors down, however, lost their home in the blaze, and St. James is urging her fans to be praying for that family.
According to Reuters, "the nine wildfires in California have so far scorched more than 9,000 acres in total, though firefighters were aided by quieter winds and lower temperatures overnight. Harsher conditions bringing the possibility of new blazes were seen for Thursday."
