Dulzura meetings scheduled nightly

Until further notice, nightly community meetings will be held at the Barrett Junction Cafe at 6 p.m. to give Dulzura residents updates on disaster relief, and on when water and power might be restored.

Power in the Dulzura area is not due back on for another 12 days, according to notices residents received Tuesday.

Homes lost both power and water Oct. 21, when the Harris fire swept east from Potrero. County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who attended last night's meeting, said that in rural areas, "if there's no power to the wells, there's no water."

Jacob urged people not to clean up before FEMA and county inspectors or insurance companies have had a chance to look over their properties. She said permits for rebuilding will be expedited and, in many cases, fees waived.

County officials will allow residents to rebuild structures that didn't receive permits when first built as long as they are built at the same size, she said.

-Janine Zuniga, staff writer