Barona Wildfire Victims Celebrate Move in Day; Keys Unlock Doors to First of Dozens of Rebuilt Tribal Homes.

To download high-resolution, print-ready JPEG images, click on the thumbnail image above.

WARNING: these images are

very large (800K+)

Click here for caption

Business Editors

MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE:

http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=4608467

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2004

The Barona Band of Mission Indians held a welcome home celebration at the home of Mary Parcell, a Barona Tribal elder, marking the completion of the first seven tribal homes replaced on the reservation since being destroyed in the October 2003 wildfires.

Parcell and tribal members Fred Darby, Cindy Banegas, James Rodriguez, Margie McGinty, Shaun Magginni and Shannon Dudiot received keys and began moving in furniture and other personal belonging as they settled into their newly built homes.

After extensive demolition, clean up and planning, approximately 500 workers began construction on new single-family homes at the end of December 2003, and all of the homes are expected to be complete at the end of May 2004.

"Five months ago, the Cedar Fire struck the Barona Indian Reservation and neighboring communities resulting in a tragic loss of lives and homes," said Clifford LaChappa, chairman of the Barona Band of Mission Indians. "Like thousands of families throughout San Diego, the Barona Tribe immediately began the painful process of assessing the damage and salvaging what remained of our homes and possessions."

Continued LaChappa, "We are forever thankful for the outpouring of support and assistance we received during the rebuilding process. As these seven tribal families move into their new homes today, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with our friends and neighbors who continue on the road to rebuilding."

LaChappa acknowledged the assistance of the scores of tribal volunteers, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the California Conservation Corps and the Hoopa Indian Tribe's Civilian Community Corps for helping with the clean up efforts, as well as the Barona Housing Authority and the hundreds of construction workers who helped manage and implement the rebuilding program. He also thanked the management and staff of Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino for their support and welcoming the many families who the Tribe lodged at the resort during the construction process.

The new homes feature exterior and interior upgrades to enhance fire protection including double paned windows, metal window casings, tile roofs and stucco eves. Additional fire precautions include an enhanced landscaping design which has eliminated undergrowth and shrubs to create 50 foot defensive barriers.

The homes were built in accordance with Universal Building Code 97 construction guidelines and plans were checked by Esgil Corp., an independent source that also verifies plans for the County of San Diego, the City of San Diego and numerous other local municipalities.

The planning and construction crew included contractors from REN Construction, Bow & Arrow Construction, E. Welch Construction, Golden Star Construction, Newman Flanagan Construction and Alpine Construction.

"I am overjoyed to be moving back into a comfortable home and getting back to my daily routine," said Mary Parcell. "I am also so proud to be a member of the Barona Tribe and thankful for everyone who helped make this day possible."

MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=4608467