By Bruce Barton

Anabel Pelham sits on ash and rubbish left over from a two-alarm fire that gutted her Los Altos apartment Thanksgiving Day.

When Anabel Pelham flipped a switch to light her gas fireplace after Thanksgiving dinner, she was expecting a cozy little fire to warm up the autumn evening. What she got was a raging blaze through the crawl space between the ceiling and roof that gutted her Los Altos apartment in a matter of minutes.

Pelham, a San Francisco State University professor, is adjusting to life in a temporary apartment, across the street on Gabilan Street from her burned-out residence . Despite a valiant attempt by Santa Clara County firefighters to save her belongings, much of what she owned was either burned or doused with water or foam used to fight the fire. What belongings remain carry a heavy, foul smell of smoke.

Fire investigators said Friday the cause of the two-alarm fire was still undetermined. At one point, Pelham had counted dozens of firefighters and seven trucks on the scene, including a hook-and-ladder truck as firefighters fought the fire from above. The blaze spread to the two neighboring apartments, also causing major damage. It took approximately five hours for crews to completely smother the blaze.

“Firefighters were just working frantically,” said Pelham, awed and grateful for the work done by crews. “It was awesome to see them. They worked unbelievably fast. They were the most professional, coordinated group I’ve seen. They saved a lot of property and definately lives.”

She described firefighters working in teams, a few scattering tarps over possessions while others used axes and chainsaws to get at the fire. Another firefighters attended to the needs of a stunned Pelham while a resident volunteer set up a card table outside offering coffee and treats to those involved.

Once it was reasonably safe, two firefighters took Pelham by each hand to go back into the apartment and salvage a few items.

“It was the most helpless feeling I can ever remember,” she said. “Everything is collapsing around you.”

But Thanksgiving took on additional meaning for Pelham. She took note of the empathy pouring out of people who helped her in a time of most dire need. From the firefighters to relatives and neighbors who helped with clean up, packing and moving, Pelham seemed to feel compassion everywhere she looked.

Her sister Sandra and Sandra’s husband Jerry Peterson chipped in big-time. Pelham said her sister, using the term SEMA (Sandra Emergency Management Agency) showed “so much courage and emotional strength,” Pelham said. “She worked 18 hours straight for days and she did it with such grace.” Pelham’s former husband, Coy, also came down to help with moving.

“My sister kept saying, ‘You’ve got to get back on your horse,’ so it was important to get everything as close to back to normal as soon as possible,” Pelham said.

Pelham said she plans to stay in Los Altos despite losing a place she really loved.

“I drove around the Peninsula looking for the ideal community and this is it,” she said. “Los Altos is my home.”

Besides taking from the disaster that “firefighters walk on water,” Pelham observed: “Your life can go from normal to total chaos and disaster in a matter of two minutes. Any moment, any time, anything can happen.”

On the other hand: “I didn’t know in such a direct way so much compassion was around from friends and neighbors. I am so thankful that my sister and her husband were with me when the fire started and that I wasn’t alone.”