Rottweilers too mean to evacuate

Ramona:

When Bob Gogola left his home outside Ramona on Sunday, he was sure he would never see it again. The 74-year-old Korean War veteran took off in his van and slept the night in the Kmart parking lot in Ramona. He left behind two Rottweilers that he said were too mean to get into the van.

When he tried to get to his house Monday, the road was blocked with embers, logs and trees, some burning. Walking up the dirt road, he saw his neighbor's stucco home burning out of control. Two firefighters from the city of San Mateo in Northern California, Capt. Greg Campbell and firefighter Michael Ramsey, escorted Gogola, who was walking with a cane. The firefighters seemed exhausted after going 24 hours without sleep.

Gogola came around the bend and was overjoyed to find his modest home had been spared. "Hey, look at that, it's my adobe hacienda," joked Gogola. "God, you guys are good. Which one of you guys want a hug?"

-- Richard Marosi