Thanking rescuers

Returning home after two days of being evacuated last month from fires that destroyed nearly 20,000 acres of brush near his home, Richard Preuss took a spin through the neighborhood to check out the damage. Sue Doyle in the Daily News.

Shocked at how close the charred earth came to his home, the father of two was grateful for the work of firefighters and police who kept his place safe while he stayed with family in Encino.

"Because of the firefighters and police, we weren't affected," said Preuss. "But we certainly could have been, I have no doubt."