Wrightwood cafe becomes Blue Cut fire gathering spot, helps residents and first responders

PHELAN >> For years, residents of Phelan, Wrightwood and the West Cajon Valley area have made the Mountain Top Cafe a gathering place.

“Sometimes a bunch of us retired law enforcement guys get together here some mornings and just talk,” said John Gress of West Cajon Valley.

“We’ve been coming here for 30 years,” his wife, Mary Gress, chimed in.

On Tuesday, the popular eating spot became a hub for residents, firefighters and other emergency persoel escaping the devastating Blue Cut fire.

• More coverage: Blue Cut fire burns into 3rd day, 15 Freeway reopens as some evacuations lifted

The Mountain Top Cafe sits on the southern corner of highways 138 and 2, making it an ideal place for people to congregate.

Wednesday morning, the large dirt parking lot next to the eatery was filled with first responder vehicles and the cars of those who slept in their vehicles after escaping the flames of the fast-moving fire.

“A lot of people stayed here overnight, and they’re thirsty and hungry so I stayed open,” said Jiy Lee, owner of the rustic and homey restaurant. She has been ruing the cafe alone for the last two days.

“My employees called me and said they couldn’t come to work because the roads are blocked, so I told them, ‘It’s OK. Just stay home,’” she said.

Lee doesn’t have phone service at the cafe, so she can only take cash, but most people only have cards.

“It’s OK. They don’t have to pay today,” she said. “I know they’ll come back.”

Several firefighters, smelling of charred wood and chaparral, came into the cafe to order drinks. And with every order, Lee refused to take their money.

• Photos: The Blue Cut fire burns for a third day

One firefighter became involved in a friendly tussle with Lee when he tried to pay for a large soda.

“No! No!” Lee said. “It’s nothing. It’s for you. You don’t have to pay.”

The tall and lean firefighter wearing his yellow turnout gear repeatedly tried to hand her a bill and even tried to leave it as a tip, but Lee would not have it.

The Gresses, themselves evacuees, watched the exchange in amusement.

“She’s really the sweetest thing,” said Mary Gress. “And what she’s doing is wonderful.”

John James Webb, 20, and his pastor, Young Kim, only recently met Lee.

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“I’ve never been here,” Kim said. “I’m here because of the fire.”

• Inside the fire: What made the Blue Cut fire so relentlessly fast

Webb said he, Kim and two other roommates watched the Blue Cut fire make its way over the ridges and mountaintops toward Kim’s property south of Highway 138 and east of Highway 2.

“I realized it was pretty close, a lot closer than the fire from last week,” Webb said. “I had a weird feeling it was going to be a disastrous fire.”

The men packed up their dogs and a few important possessions and left the area late Tuesday and spent the night in Lee’s parking lot. The next morning, they stepped inside the Mountain Top Cafe for the first time.

“I saw that she was giving away drinks and stuff to the firefighters,” said Webb. “And she’s just keeping this place open for those to come and sit while they wait to see what’s going on with their homes. I think that’s awesome.”

Webb, Kim and the Gresses’ properties were spared by the large fire.

Wednesday afternoon, the erratic fire flared up only a few miles from the cafe, prompting law enforcement to ask Lee to leave.

“They said to go because of the fire so I went, but this morning they let me come back so I’m open again,” she said with an impish smile. “And if they let me, I’ll be here tomorrow.”