FALLBROOK, Calif. (KGTV) — A day after the Yard Fire broke out near their Fallbrook home, friends Linda Cleveland and Margaret Kofron reflect on their shared experience.

“We went out into the middle of the street, right here in our cul-de-sac. I looked up and said, ‘Oh my God.’ Not again, not again,” Kofron said.

This wasn’t the first time the duo had to evacuate due to wildfire. Seven years ago, Lilac Fever affected the border city of Bonsall and spread rapidly with the Santa Ana winds. 114 houses were destroyed and 55 houses were damaged in the fire.

The neighborhoods of Cleveland and Kofron were spared damage.

“That was terrible,” Kofron said. “Our whole neighborhood was filled with smoke, heavy smoke. It looked like it was coming this way. When we evacuated, we didn’t know when we would be able to come back or if our homes would still be here.”

Luckily, Friday’s Garden Fire was a different story.

Slower winds allowed crews to quickly contain the flames and no homes were left untouched. But people living nearby still had to be evacuated.

I met Cleveland and his grandson at the evacuation center while they waited with their husky and two cats.

Cleveland says he can get constant updates online, which helps calm his nerves.

“Because we were communicating, we could see where the fire was on the map and hear updates. “It wasn’t as scary as before because this time we had more information about the fire itself,” Cleveland said.

Kofron says he feels different. The Garden Fire had sparked the same fears seven years ago.

“I consider my home my sacred place,” Kofron said. “There are a lot of emotions around the fear of losing him.”

The duo can now relax on Kofron’s front porch. Thank you to the fire crews who saved their home for the second time.