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Before and after the fire Photo: Courtesy
On April 18, Kemi Pavlocak woke to urgent buzzing from her phone. Ranchita locals were trying to reach her to tell her that her market was on fire.
Most people who have hiked the southern section of the Pacific Crest Trail are familiar with the Montezuma Valley Market. Situated near mile 100 on the PCT, it was an ideal spot for a resupply or a shower. But When Kemi finally laid eyes on the structure, it had burned to the ground.
The cause of the fire remains unclear, and Kemi says investigators haven’t shown much interest in figuring out what caused it.
Ranchita community rallies to save Montezuma Valley Market after fire
The market was the only store in the rural unincorporated San Diego County community before it burned down April 18. Author: Shawn Styles (Weather) Updated: 8:31 PM PDT April 30, 2021
RANCHITA, Calif. An East County market that got a second life thanks to a Navy couple now needs help coming back from the ashes after a devastating fire destroyed it.
Kemi and Mike Pavlocak took over the Montezuma Valley Market in Ranchita 3 years ago and it instantly became a gathering place for the community. We had furniture out here for our guests to sit on and enjoy. We brought a grill that was used for cooking, Mike said.
EAST COUNTY
A fire destroyed a store and heavily damaged a real-estate office in Ranchita early Sunday before firefighters were able to put it out, a Cal Fire official said.
The blaze was reported around 1:45 a.m. at the Montezuma Valley Market on Monezuma Valley Road near Skyway Drive. By time firefighters arrived, the store was fully involved and flames were spreading to the real estate office next door, said Cal Fire spokesman Thomas Shoots.
Crews worked to get the fire contained and to protect other structures near the store, Shoots said. The store was destroyed and the real-estate office suffered major damage, but firefighters were able to save some paperwork from the office, he said.
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Pacific Crest Trail Association
Nothing matters more than your safe return from the PCT. Be prepared. Please take the trail’s dangers seriously. Understand and manage the risks so you can get out safely. We’re so grateful to Doug for turning his tragedy into a lesson for us all.
A son’s newfound passion for hiking
My son Trevor, a computer science major at The Ohio State University had just shared with me that he wanted to graduate early and hike the Pacific Crest Trail.
I knew he loved hiking. He was introduced to it in Yosemite National Park in the summer of 2016. After seeing nature in all its glory, he went from seeing a world in black and white to one that was filled with vibrant colors.