Volunteers from UCLA and COC put on hard hats and masks to clear land.

Volunteers for Habitat for Humanity were out in force Saturday morning to demolish what was left of the Rosamond Drive home of Donna and Randy Relles, which burned in the Buckweed Fire of October 2007.

Volunteers start the dirty work of filling the roll-off bin

Students from UCLA and College of the Canyons, along with the Relles neighbors and friends, hauled burnt lumber, broke up concrete and cleared vegetation, filling an oversized rollaway bin in preparation for bulldozers to clear the land.

According to Habitat CEO Donna Deutchman, Saturday’s project was part of an initiative that Habitat is working on with the Gas Company in the Santa Clarita fire region.

Volunteers were reminded to stay hydrated.

“The students and volunteers are involved in clearing the land and will be removing trees and putting in some asphalt,” she said. “We’re here to help with the rebuilding; depending on how much insurance they have, we will help cover the gap and drive down the cost of rebuilding.”

The chimney that had to come down.

Anyone in the fire area who is in need of assistance is encouraged to call Habitat at (818) 884-8808.

Student volunteers get busy.

Workers up to the challenge of helping others.

Students survey the work before them.