Inland Empire Community Newspapers • March 21, 2013 • Page A23

Firefighters, Redlands community rememberEsperanza Fire tragedy at book reading

By Yazmin Alvarez

Even though years havepassed since the deadlyEsperanza Fire, the mem-

ory of the devastating blaze re-mains clear for several areafirefighters and residents.As some continue the ongoingfight to rebuild their lives fromthe aftermath of the Oct. 2006blaze, many are still left withunanswered questions. In hopesof finding answers, nearly 100area residents and firefightersgathered at Barnes and Noble inRedlands March 12 to hear ac-counts documented in AuthorJohn Maclean’s newly releasedbook, ‘The Esperanza Fire:Arson, Murder and Agony of En-gine 57.’The book tells the story of thefatal Esperanza Fire from the per-spective of firefighters who bat-tled the blaze. It includesinterviews from firefighters whosurvived the fire, the families ofthose who were killed, and lawenforcement officers, jurors andprosecutors involved in the inves-tigation and trial, Maclean said.For Devon Lariviere, a River-side County Cal Fire firefighterwith the San Bernardino Unit,Tuesday’s book release offeredan opportunity to help fill themissing pieces to the puzzle he’sbeen trying to put together for thelast several years. “I just want to get an under-standing of what happened thatday,” Lariviere said. “I’ve heardso many stories, but now I wantto get it from those that were outthere that day.” The Espernaza Fire was fatal toEngine Co 57, a five-man U.S.Forest Service crew. The men losttheir lives while attempting toprotect a home from wind-drivenflames in the San Jacinto Moun-tain-area above the Banning Pass.The burnover trapped hundredsof residents and more than40,000 acres and dozens ofhomes were burned. Killed in the blaze were Capt.Mark Loutzenhiser, 44, of Idyll-wild and firefighters JessMcLean, 27, of Beaumont, Jason

McKay, 27,of Phelan, PabloCerda, 23, of Fountain Valley andDaniel Hoover-Najera, 20, of SanJacinto. Lariviere and Najera were bestfriends. He said the last memory he hasof him is in a voicemail he wisheshe wouldn’t have deleted.“I missed his call,” he saidabout Najera. “He was just call-ing to see how things were going.Then a day later, the fire hap-pened. Days like this are when Iwish I had saved the message.”Maclean said the book is notmeant to give closure, but insteadanswer the questions raised bymany over the years. He said hewrites these accounts becausethey have a direct effect on peo-

ple.“These stories are somethingbigger than what I am, and thatkeeps me going,” Maclean said.“I’m filling a very responsibleposition here. People want toknow the real story. That drivesme to write these narratives.They’re even used learningtools.” Redlands Fire Chief Jeff Frazierwas among those who attendedTuesday’s event and purchasedMaclean’s book as a learning toolfor the fire department.“I’m blessed to have the fire-fighters I have,” he said. “I havea lot of genuine respect and con-cern for them. I’m hoping theyuse the books to recognize thedifferent patterns involved infires. If they do, it will haveserved its purpose.” The Esperanza Fire marked thefirst time an entire engine crewwas killed by fire and the firsttime an arsonist was successfullyprosecuted for murder for settinga wildland fire, Maclean said. “This book is about two sto-ries—the story of the fire and thestory of Raymond Oyler, the manwho started the fire. I’ve neverhad anything so complete beforeand it’s not over. It never will befor those who survived.”Vivian Najera, Redlands resi-dent and aunt of Daniel Najera,said she attended the book releaseto represent Daniel’s legacy. Sheadded that Maclean’s words havehelped her to rebuild her life afterlosing her nephew.“He’s right. It’s never closure,”Vivian said. “But it does take meone step closer toward peace—astep closer to acceptance.”Redland’s Barnes and Noblewill offer a percentage of the pro-ceeds made from Macleans’sbook sales to the Public Safety

PHOTO/YAZMIN ALVAREZ

Devon Lariviere, a Riverside County Cal Fire firefighter, skimsthrough pages of Author John Maclean’s newly released book,The Esperanza Fire: Arson, Murder and Agony of Engine 57, atBarnes & Noble in Redlands March 12. Lariviere is hoping togain an understanding behind the 2006 blaze that killed his bestfriend and U.S. Forest Service firefighter, Daniel Hoover-Najera.

PHOTO/YAZMIN ALVAREZ

Redlands Fire Chief Jeff Frazier (left) was among those who at-tended Tuesday’s book signing and fundraising event at Barnesand Noble in Redlands March 12. Frazier purchased a copy ofThe Esperanza Fire: Arson, Murder and Agony of Engine 57, byJohn Maclean, as a learning tool for the fire department.