Neighbors move fast as fire threatens homes

Three Morgan Territory residents were recognized by the Clayton City Council for their bravery and quick thinking during the recent Leon Fire on Oct. 30.

Patrick Duggan, his sister Brenna and Morgan Territory Volunteer Firefighter John Khashabi received kudos from Mayor Tuija Catalano and a standing ovation from a packed house at the Nov. 5 City Council meeting.

The fire started around 6 a.m. in a manure pile on a small ranch on Morgan Territory Rd. Pushed by high winds, it spread quickly along the creek and up a steep hill to Leon Drive, threatening dozens of homes and triggering mandatory evacuations.

It was the “perfect storm” of adverse conditions. There was no power that day because of the PG&E Public Safety outage. Cell phone service in the rural area is spotty at best and a tree had fallen earlier that morning on Morgan Territory Rd. blocking the road in both directions.

Winds were heavy, gusting to 60 mph. There were two other major fires burning at the same time in Oakley and Bethel Island, taxing the resources of both CalFire and East Contra Costa County Fire. Without Internet, reliable cell service or landlines, the area was cut off from all communication. Residents were on their own.

Patrick Duggan, a former Marine who lives with his parents on Morgan Territory Rd., was leaving for work around 6 a.m. when he spotted the fire. He woke his siblings and parents, Pat and Karen Duggan, and got them out of the house.

His sister Brenna dialed 911 as her mother frantically drove through the streets honking to alert neighbors. It was 20 minutes before Brenna reached 911. She drove her younger brother to safety, returning to help her father fight the blaze which had consumed their fence and was threatening their home.

Meanwhile, neighbors alerted Khashabi, a Leon Dr. resident well-known in the area for his Morgan Territory Volunteer Fire Department. He owns a fire truck and hoses and is actively raising funds to buy more equipment.

“I woke up to someone pounding on my door,” he said. “I was geared up and out the door in less than a minute.” As he was leaving his house, Khashabi called Brad Wood, another volunteer, for help. But Wood was stuck behind the CalFire engine blocked by the fallen tree on Morgan Territory Rd.

Khashabi turned the siren on and headed towards the glow. The fire had already reached a home high on the hill and flames were licking at the deck and guest house. Within minutes, the blaze was threatening Khashabi’s own property.
He could see the fire advancing. “I was winded and tired, and my hoses were spread all over.”

Other neighbors began to show up with water trucks and shovels. Residents and CalFire crews cleared the downed tree and multiple agencies responded.

At the City Council meeting a grateful Khashabi was quick to acknowledge his neighbors.

“It was dark and it was scary,” he said. “But this is how this community is. All the neighbors coming together gives such a sense of community.”

The 48-year-old is a former reserve officer with Concord PD and was once a volunteer firefighter with East Diablo Fire Department, a precursor to East Contra Costa Fire Protection District.

Khashabi is actively seeking official recognition as a volunteer fire department but it’s not a simple process. Although his neighbors are enthusiastic, he does not have the support of CalFire or ECCFPD.

“In a fire, it’s evacuation first, then fight the fire,” CalFire Deputy Chief Mike Marcucci said. “You can’t just say you’re a volunteer fire department. There is a lot of training that goes into it—as much as professional firefighters.”

Coordinating between agencies is complicated, explains Ross MacCumber, ECCFPD Operations Battalion Chief.

“John can be helpful,” he said. “But there may come a time when he is more of a hinderance.”

“The Fire department is fantastic, but they can’t always be everywhere at once” Khashabi said, undeterred.
“And when a tree goes down, it’s nice to have help on the other side.”