'Happiness … In Our Home' Turns to Devastation

For Mati Otsmaa, there was a family reunion Thanksgiving in New York, then a business trip to London, followed by an international phone call telling him his Orinda house was in ruins.

It took him a day to get a flight all the way home, arriving in California Monday night and a scene he will never forget.

"It was surrealistic," he said "What was once my home and shelter was a charred black building in ruins. I mean: total devastation. It was late at night. There was little light. I had a flashlight, looking through, and it was seeing all of your past all in ruins. It's one of those things one might experience on TV, but actually when you're living through it, it's shocking. The happiness we had in our home, it was just turned to devastation."

The Otsmaa family — the couple Mati and Silvi, and daughter Kai, 14, a student at Orinda Intermediate School — is staying with a neighbor. Son Mikk, 18, is attending Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.

The fire department reported the cause as inconclusive, with a probable cause of hot coals from a barbecue grill spilling on the back deck. House sitters were at the home at the time. Silvia Otsmaa said she believes a raccoon attracted by the food may have tipped over the small grill.

'We know everyone's behind us.'

Emotion overtook Mati Otsmaa on Monday night at the charred house on El Gavilan Road; some 20 friends and neighbors were there in the dark on the road to greet him.

"When I arrived, they were all in the street in front of my car, which had survived, and with a lantern on the street — just this outpouring of everyone coming by and hugging and giving us support. We know everyone's behind us. It's that type of support that has only grown."

In the days since the support groups have included friends from Orinda schools, Boy Scout groups and neighbors:

• They bring over clothes, extra computers and food.
• They went to the car dealership to get keys made when a car out front survived (a little melted rubber) but the ignition key didn't.
• They make appointments as the family looks for a place to rent.
• Silvi's brother Mati Laan heard about the fire early Sunday morning and drove right up from Santa Monica.

"All these groups have come together and created a special organization for us," Mati Otsmaa said, "From the worst comes the best." He cited some friends who have gone the extra mile: Debbie Berndt, Dianne Danzig, Neba Mills and Kelly Hughes.

The fire broke out around dawn Sunday. The barking of family dog Sophie, a King Charles Cavalier, alerted the house sitters and the neighbors, who called the fire department. "Sophie was a hero," said Mati Otsmaa.

The trip to New York was a chance to have Thanksgiving together with Mikk coming from Pennsylvania. Mati Otsmaa, who works in marketing and business development, went on to London on business.

The house was insured and the family plans to rebuild on the site.