LDS church is a haven for fire troops

ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Except for the soldiers in full camouflage roaming the halls

and filling the rooms, the Escondido California South Stake Center is a typical,

modern LDS church building.

The emergency caused by severe wildfires in San Diego Country required the

activation of the 1/160 Infantry Battalion of the California National Guard, and

the soldiers needed to be housed. They were assigned to support the Escondido

Police Department in securing the areas where fires had burned through

residential neighborhoods.

The stake center was transformed from a shelter for church members Monday to

a community evacuation center on Tuesday to a National Guard base on Wednesday.

The relationship between the church and military has spawned a mutual

admiration society.

Stake President Allen Haynie said, "The soldiers have been absolutely

spectacular."

And the acting commander of the National Guard unit, 1st Lt. Michael Harley,

returned the compliment, saying, "It has been an absolute blessing to come to

the church here."

He pointed out that the infantry unit is used to "sleeping in the dirt in the

woods. ... Here, we feel like we're in a five-star resort."

The National Guard knew the local armory couldn't hold the number of soldiers

coming, so working through the community, the contact was made with the church.

President Haynie said when he was working out the arrangements, the military

commander said, "Tell us how to behave," and expressed an understanding of LDS

church standards and a willingness for the soldiers to respect them.