Photos: Station fire victim speaks out
Julius Goff, a resident of Vogel Flats in Big Tujunga Canyon for seven years, stands amid the remains of his home, which was destroyed in the Station fire. He and another resident were criticized by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other authorities for thinking they could ride out the blaze by jumping into a hot tub. Goff, a 50-year-old single father who suffered severe burns, says he did not ignore a mandatory evacuation order -- he stayed behind to warn 10 neighbors who did not receive the order. By the time he got to his own home, to collect a roommate, the fire had surrounded them. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Goff, known to many as “Jules,” describes how he ran through a wall of flames to get to the hot tub, where he received severe burns on his legs, ear and nose. “It was like 20 freight trains running through here,” he said. “I had to come out here and face the dragon.” He says Vogel Flats residents will need help preparing for the coming rainy season, which authorities fear will bring mudslides and heavy debris flows if nothing is done. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Goff and his roommate took refuge in this hot tub. Goff grabbed a pair of jeans, ripped them in half and soaked them with water from the water heater so they would have something wet to put over their faces. The roommate grabbed their landlord’s dog, Roxy. The two men jumped into the pool, where they lay on their backs -- with Roxy on Goff’s chest -- for about an hour and a half. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Goff surveys the ruins of the two-story home on Stonyvale Road. Seven years ago, the owner offered him a free room in exchange for helping maintain the place. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Goff stands on scorched ground. On Monday, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore underlined how unpredictable the Station fire had been. “Sometimes the evacuation orders were given, and you needed to respond instantly,” he said. Whitmore said that he was relieved to hear that Goff was recovering. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
