It has been almost a year since the Cocos Fire tore through nearly 40 homes, but many of the victims have not seen their share of the money raised for them.
A $19,000 check donated to a local emergency-relief charity last June has not moved since the charity received it.
The fire that sparked near Village Drive and Twin Oaks Road in May 2014 forced the evacuation of Cal State San Marcos and hundreds of other homes. It scorched 1,995 acres and cost the city of San Marcos approximately $10.4 million in damage and firefighting expenses.
Stone Brewing Company donated $19,292 to the San Diego Voluntary Organizations Active In Disaster after hosting a fundraiser last June at their Escondido location. Organizers at SD-VOAD say they earmarked the money to go into its "Unmet Needs" fund.
The fund was dedicated to rebuilding homes in the area that were hit hardest by the fire.
“Stone has they graciously raised the funds they want to see them used,” said Valerie Brown with the San Diego Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Secretary. “We are at the year anniversary, we don't like hanging on to funds unless they’re going to be used for what they're intended."
The victims, however, have not seen their share of the $19,000 raised to help them.
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Mitzi McKinney, one victim of the firestorm, said she is frustrated that it is taking so long to give out the money to the victims.
“It’s almost a year later and I'm going to be homeless at the end of June,” said McKinney.
She was one of many that lost everything in the fire.
“There was nothing left. We went back to ashes,” McKinney said. “There was no structures left. Everything was burnt to the ground and then having to see these fire pictures again, it's stressful."
Some of that stress comes from the fact that she has not seen any of the $19,000 donated to victims like her.
So far, the nonprofit said, the rebuilding process has been stalled because of zoning and building code issues.
The nonprofit organization has now decided to distribute the funds equally to all 65 households affected in the Cocos Fire so victims like McKinney can see some relief.
SD-VOAD says it will start paying out the money within the next two weeks. Each of the 65 households will receive about 300 dollars.
Ed. Note: A previous version of the article incorrectly identified Stone Brewing Company as the organization distributing the funds. The article has been corrected. We regret the error.
