Page One

It's been a year since a fire destroyed the Berkeley Tuolomne Camp, but that hasn't stopped friends and supporters of the historic camp from working to get the area restored.

On Aug. 25, 2013, the California Rim Fire ripped through the area, destroying 92 of the camp's 111 structures including all of the main buildings onsite.

Scott Gelfand, with the Friends of Berkeley Tuolomne Camp, said community members are still working to bring the camp back.

"It's a vital part of Berkeley and the city's history," Gelfand said. "The community is excited to help out the camp and get it rebuilt."

The camp opened in 1922 and is just seven miles from the entrance to Yosemite National Park.

The fire was the third largest wildfire in California's history and burned 257,314 acres.

Friends of Berkeley Tuolomne Camp is a nonprofit organization that has organized events to help raise money for the camp's restoration. The organization is not associated with the city. 

The organization held three events in recent weeks to raise awareness and money to help restore the camp. 

On Aug. 22, the group held a campfire sing-a-long at Codornices Park in Berkeley. On Aug. 25, the group held a candlelight vigil marking the first anniversary of the fire, and today at 1 p.m., the organization is holding the "Tee off for Tuolumne!" golf tournament and dinner at Tilden Park in Berkeley. 

Gelfand said the money raised at the events will go toward purchasing trees and repairing paths in the camp. 

Gelfand said the camp's restoration is still in the early stages, and he estimated it will be at least four years before it is complete. 

1123a09/05/14