In the aftermath of a tragic plane crash in the Murphy Canyon military housing area, residents found solace and support in the strength of their close-knit community. Esther Hoffman, taking refuge in a neighbor’s minivan, was one of many who experienced firsthand the camaraderie among military families on Santo Road.
The plane crash, which occurred just a short distance from Hoffman’s home on Yorktown Drive, led her to rely on her neighbor’s vehicle to escape the thick smoke. “I think what is really great is just because we are all military, we have that ‘we are in this together’ type deal,” Hoffman expressed. “We all kind of always have that banding together.”
Alana Ballote, residing on Salmon Street, recounted a similar experience where an unknown neighbor alerted her family to evacuate. “I don’t know who it was that pounded on our door and was like, ‘Get out, get your family out,'” Ballote said. “You kind of rely on the community around you. People you’ve never met before become your family and friends, your closest family.”
The strong sense of unity was evident as military members and their families swiftly organized to collect donations for those affected. Murphy Canyon, with its over 2,300 military family homes, has long been a cornerstone of the San Diego military community, noted by Naval Base Capt. Robert Healy.
Ashley Camac, CEO of Zero8Hundred, a nonprofit supporting military families, noted, “This military community has been a fixture in San Diego for many, many decades.” The organization quickly coordinated with other local groups to provide aid.
One critical resource was Miller Elementary, designated a “Purple Star” school due to its support for military-connected families. It transformed into an evacuation center, providing evacuees with necessities and comfort. Zero8Hundred, the Red Cross, and other organizations set up services there, offering food, childcare, and other essentials.
Among the volunteers was Dan Pike, a senior chief in the U.S. Navy, who helped organize donations. “I’m pretty proud of the response from the team, and it’s our family that’s gotten injured,” he remarked. “So, I’ll do anything for them.”
In response to the incident, Miller and Hancock elementary schools planned to resume classes with regular schedules. San Diego Unified School District officials announced that further donations and support would continue the following day at Hancock Elementary, where a parent meeting was scheduled.
Meanwhile, Liberty Military Housing, responsible for managing the Murphy Canyon properties, was actively assisting over three dozen families in finding temporary accommodations. Hoffman reflected on the unique support system in the military community, saying, “I do feel like if this were to happen in a non-military neighborhood, it would have been a whole lot more scattered.”
Staff writer Karen Kucher contributed to this report.
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