Honoring Glenview Fire victims: A call for history

Living in San Bruno, one would think "Nothing ever happened here.” With no museum, no historical society and only a few pictures hung at City Hall, the past becomes something that seems superfluous, something no one has the time to look at for guidance. It is now more than ever that the preservation of history becomes not only important, but absolutely necessary.

The Glenview Fire and pipeline explosion was a horrific experience that left the entirety of the Peninsula shaken to the core. Everyone knew someone from that neighborhood. As this terrible event unfolded, the true character of our small town came out. People came together, helped each other, prayed together and showed love for one another. Firefighters, dispatchers and police worked ’round the clock. Neighbors cooked for each other, gave each other a place to stay and donated everything they could. The fight, though, is far from over.

One way to make sure that something as appalling as the San Bruno fire never happens again is to never forget. As Pacific Gas and Electric tries to defend its neglect and the people of San Bruno try to rebuild, we must preserve. We must be sure that the pictures, data, personal narratives and stories of heroes never gets lost in the flow of time. Because this is real to us. Our city has experienced a terrible wrong, and I fear that it will be forgotten if we do not take the time to care.

Something did happen in San Bruno. We had internment camps during World War II, right where Tanforan stands today. We had Seabiscuit. We had a terrible wrong done to us by an electric company that neglected its responsibilities. We have a beautiful community that came together in the wake of tragedy. Let’s take this opportunity to come together once again, and rally to never be forgotten with the passage of time.

"History must be written of, by and for the survivors.” — Anonymous

Lauren Brollier graduated from San Francisco State University with a bachelor of arts in history. She is currently student teaching in Berkeley while working on her credential. If you are interested in participating in the San Bruno History Project please e-mail Lauren at: laurenbrollier@yahoo.com.