Fire Brings Scripps Co-workers Together Under One Roof

Ioana Patringenaru | December 3, 2007

Terri Varnell and Anne Cressey have known each other since the 1980s. They both live in Ramona and work at UCSD’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. So, when Varnell found out that the Cresseys house burned down in the Witch Fire, she immediately invited them to stay at her house.

“I’m glad we were able to help out,” said Varnell, adding she always wanted to help out someone in need. “I’m glad they offered,” said Cressey.

The Varnells and Cresseys had followed a similar trajectory during the fire. They both evacuated Sunday night, Oct. 21, after a mandatory evacuation order was issued for all of Ramona. The Cresseys took their three cats, two dogs, passports, insurance papers, clothing, toiletries and two laptops. The Varnells took their four cats, important papers, some pictures, jewelry, clothes and medications.

Then the Cresseys headed to Serra Mesa, where Rod Cressey’s parents live. They found out Monday that their house was gone from their niece, who also lives in Ramona and drove up to their home. They went back to take a look Wednesday.

“It was obvious that the house had exploded,” said Cressey.

Anne Cressey's house before and after the fire.

The walls had been propelled outwards and the giant pile of rubble still radiated heat. The Cresseys stayed with Rod’s parents for two weeks then moved in with the Varnells. It was nice to be back in Ramona, said Anne Cressey. “It was nice to be under one roof with friends,” she added.

The Varnells helped the Cresseys dig through the rubble. They helped Anne Cressey salvage a dozen iris plants, which had survived the fire. Terri Varnell found four small Native American ceramics, which Anne bought in New Mexico. They now sit in Cressey’s office at Scripps’ Geosciences Research Division, where she serves as the management services officer.

The Varnells and the Cresseys gather together a couple of times a week for dinner in the Varnell home. Anne and her husband have been busy juggling calls and appointments to rebuild their lives. “They make a good team,” Terri Varnell said. They signed a one-year lease on a furnished house about five miles from the Varnells’ house. They plan to submit to San Diego County for approval the same plans they used five years ago to build their house. Last time around, construction took 10 months. This time, Anne Cressey said she is hoping for a year. Both she and Terri Varnell said they plan to stay in touch.

“We’ll always be friends and neighbors,” Varnell said.