'This dude saved a ton of houses'

Jeff Reeves became a local hero in one Yorba Linda neighborhood after spending a day and a half spraying down his neighbors' homes with his water truck.

Reeves, a grading contractor, heard that people in his neighborhood were encountering a fierce fire. So he pulled the water truck out of his yard, filled it with 2,250 gallons of water and, at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, when the fire hit, began spraying homes with loads of liquid.

He kept going all day and all night, repeatedly spraying dozens of threatened homes with gushes of water, which emerged from a nozzle on the side of the white vehicle bearing a U.S. flag. He sprayed out 49 loads, finishing up at 5 o'clock the next morning.

On Sunday his neighbors and friends on Big Horn Mountain Way and Blue Ridge Drive showed their appreciation as he took joyrides with the vehicle, children clinging onto the side.

"This dude saved a ton of houses," said Tim Tooney, a friend whose house Reeves passed over with the water many times.

"I owe you my life, man," said Bob Tillmon, Tooney's next-door neighbor and a 16-year homeowner, snapping a photo of the truck. "This guy's a hero."

-- Tony Barboza

Photos: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

More photos from the battle against the Southern California wildfires.

Comments

[Katie]

They can really show their appreciation by helping pay his water bill.

[Carter]

Yeah, too bad that 110,250 gallons of water couldn't have been used to irrigate crops or quench the thirsty in times of statewide drought. Not saying you don't try to protect those houses any way you can, but I wish developers didn't have free reign to build in dangerous fire zones.

[Bob in Los Angeles]

I guess Matt and Carter would prefer that their own homes burn to the ground rather than waste water when it could serve a higher purpose.

[Kevin O]

This guy did a great job helping out a neighborhood when he just could have focused on his own home.

For those of you worried about the water used, I was born and raised in CA. I been hearing since the mid 70's that we are running out of water, and how many houses have they built since then? When we REALLY are running out, they will stop or severely limit building.

[Cindy]

You people are crazy. I am a tree hugger with the best of them, and care desperately about the drought and the conditions we face here in CA, but this guy should be commended for saving those houses. Now, just try to imagine if it was your house he saved. You'd be grateful then, wouldn't you!!!

[norma jean]

Yes, it was a lot of dearly prized water, but to save those homes was,next to lives, one of our most valuable assets. I wish I had money to replace the little homes in that trailer park that burned so badly. Those elderly people can not rebuild or start over. I have my own tiny little house and if I lost it, I probably wouldn't be around long. Thank you to all the firefighters and helpers that risked their lives and challenged themselves to help save what they could. You are "angels".May you be blessed.

[Don]

your sick...

[Richard Zyphro]

Why doesn't this guy save himself, his family and the enviroment and let his property return to wild lands? We won't have to hear him being called a hero (that gets handed out faster that bailouts), and the environment wins, too. These people CHOOSE to live in these areas, they almost get what they deserve.

Good luck until the next enivitalbe firestorm...

[Jeff]

Why would you want to irrigate more? Currently 80% of all water is used to irrigate crops. Does that not seem extreme to you? This guy did what I would hope my neighbor would do, HELP!!. So he spent 110,000 gal of water, do you think it went to waste or will it be put back into the aquifer?

[LilyC]

Give me a break, Matt and Carter.

You want to talk sustainability and environment? What about the toxic fumes and CO2 given off if those homes had burned? And the disposal of all the debris, much of it a toxic blend of burned lord knows what? And the materials that would be consumed when the houses were ultimately rebuilt (because insurance covers the structure, not the land - so they couldn't afford to move)?

Yes, fighting fires is a big consumer of water, but the alternative is a lot more hazardous to the environment, not the mention the human spirit of those who could have lost everything.

Get your priorities straight.

[Billy]

Do you think those houses should'nt have been saved to create more jobs? Or preferred them to burn and spew more toxic particles into the air.

Lighten up.

[Greg]

Matt & Carter---you guys are pinheads!! Rather that run for his life---which it sounds like YOU would have done---this guy tried to HELP his neighbors----not damn some distant 'evil' delveloper or 'water' some unknown field---he actually helped a fellow human...what a concept!!!

[Alan Browne]

The insurance companies involved should pay his premiums for the next 10 years.

[tyrone]

To Carter and Matt - you're not dealing with reality. 110,000 gallons is nothing - it is about what 10 families of 4 people use in a month if they're being careful and not irrigating or anything. Take the thousands of homes with lawns, gardens, huge showers, wasteful dishwashing habits, faucets running while brushing teeth, washing down your driveway, dripping faucets, etc... and 110,000 is a drop in the bucket.

From an environmental standpoint, Jeff Reeves prevented TONS of greenhouse gasses from being spouted into the air by keeping those homes from burning - and people are crying about the water that was used.

Please think before you spout your uninformed, knee-jerk, "I'm concerned about the environment" reactions.

[Rob McMillin]

Maybe along the way of a more serious reply to Carter's comment -- those living in hurricane territory, near earthquake faults, and in wild fire zones should all provide their own insurance. Nature is trying to tell you something, and getting the Feds to subsidize your poor decision-making is irresponsible.

[chance]

Not to mention the environmental cost of rebuilding all those home with new metal wiring, fittings, wood frames, semi-toxic construction materials, plus the fuel costs of hauling those items from the mine/forest/quarry to the distribution site and then to the homesites...

Of course, that used to be called 'the Economy.'

Can't win.

[Y.L. Resident.]

I am really smiling as I read these comments--people are really funny. My family and I were evacuated last weekend near where our “hero” was doing this noble job. It was quite an experience. An experience that I don’t wish any of you to go through!

All I can say is: Thank you so much Jeff and thanks to all the firefighters and police officers who did a superb job and kept us all safe.
And to the rest of those who are still winning… please shut up!

[LA Wloman]

I believe he sucked most of the water out of swimming pools in the neighborhood.

[Katie]

I was serious -- the people whose homes he saved should show their gratitude with their check books and chip in and pay his water bill.

The people moaning and groaning about the water wasted are just trolls and deserve to be ignored.

[M]

You had to be crazy to stay on this hill in the middle of that fire. Thank you for being that crazy. Thank you so so so much!

[smc]

I don't mean to put a damper on things here because I am sure he is a hero
to all of those people whose homes he saved. I am questioning about using
that much water during an emergency which affected so many neighborhoods.
I am watching the news about how Yorba Linda ran out of water and the
cities emergency vehicles were unable to save many homes due to the fact
that one of their pumping stations apparently burned down and the reservoir
ran dry. By my calculations using 2,250 gallons per load x 49 loads (according
to the article) is 110,250 gallons. Again, I'm sure Mr. Reeves is a hero in his
own neighborhood, but perhaps being called other names by the people
whose homes were lost due to lack of water.

[Big Horn Mtn. Way Resident]

Some of you people are despicable and uninformed. This area didn't have enough fire engines either. I would know because I was there on the street with him that whole time. The water situation in other parts of Yorba Linda was due a pump going out and not this neighbor of mine using too much water. And to the guy who said they get what they deserve... you must be the most insensitive idiot around. I guess people who live at the beach deserve tsunamis and hurricanes? People in the mountains deserve avalanches and blizzards? People in the desert deserve droughts? people in the plains and Midwest deserve tornadoes. Karma will get all of you who put any negativity on this story. You have no idea what the losses in this neighborhood were like. They were some of the worst and he took too much water? You people are pathetic.

[Easy Rider]

Don't worry people about his water bill. There's no possible way to hook up a water truck to your home and if he did, it would take him days to fill his truck with a garden hose. He would need an industrial stand pipe or fire hydrant to fill it. If he used a fire hydrant, then he did what the fire department would have done anyways. He's a good man!!! You go dude!!!

[YBCYLR]

Anyone pulling negetives out of this more than wonderful "real life" story is a jealous s.o.b. that obviously has a life that isn't worth a drop of water let alone a tanker full. The idiots and side kicks of guys like Carter, Matt and Rob (or is it Curly, Mo and Larry!) are the problem children of this great country. I would assume they live in a garbage can somewhere so they don't effect the environment as they live, breathe and eat their own. As far as Mr. Reeves goes and all the great comments about paying for his services and use of water (which I agree with): he's a guy that wouldn't take the rewards; all he thought about was his home, his family and his larger family; those of us lucky enough to live on the mountain next to him. Thanks Mr. Reeves for saving our home and family possessions. We can never repay you.