Judy Harris didn’t know where to turn when Corona police came to her door Monday night and ordered her to leave because the Canyon fire had gotten too close to her San Clemente Circle home.

Update (Wednesday, Sept. 27): Canyon fire evacuations lifted; only residents with ID let back in

“I have my cats and my chicken and I left,” said Harris in her distinctive New York twang.

Harris, her cats, her chicken — Tweety Bird — and several of her neighbors ended up in the parking lot of a Ralphs grocery store, uncertain of what to do and where to go. But they soon realized, they picked the right spot.

“(Ralphs) told us last night, ‘If you’re hungry, take anything you’d like,’ ” Harris recalled Tuesday, adding that employees only asked for the barcodes off the items so they could keep track for inventory.

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Alton Palencia, 33, and his parents were also displaced and all ended up in the parking lot as well.

“They were really cool,” Palencia said Tuesday morning as he made himself a cup of coffee at a table Ralphs staff set up outside with snacks, fruit and pastries free for anyone who needed it. “Last night, they were giving out water. I thought it was really kind to take care of their own community like that.”

A green sign near the table also thanked the first responders battling the Canyon fire.

“Thank you to the firefighters, police & all the agencies involved,” the sign read. “God bless you. You guys are awesome.”

‘Part of the community’

Palencia grabbed a treat for his dogs and a banana for his tortoise, Raffy, named after Palencia’s favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Rafael, before thanking Assistant Manager Michael Soria.

“Honestly, that’s why we do this,” said Soria as he stood outside chatting with several stranded people who had to sleep in their cars. “We do this because we’re part of the community.”

When frightened and disheveled residents began showing up in the parking lot around 8 p.m., according to Soria, the employees sprang into action.

“I was at home watching (the fire) on the news when I got a call from my closer, Jaime (Hastings),” Soria said.

Hastings told Soria that more people were coming in, some without their wallets, some in their pajamas, and asked what they should do.

A team effort

“It’s been a team effort,” he said, of the plan he and the store employees formulated.

They stayed open all night, allowing people to have water, food and other necessities, and to charge their cellphones.

Nicole Lynem, 27, and her roommate didn’t have time to grab many items when they were told to evacuate.

“We weren’t even able to grab my clothes,” Lynem said Tuesday morning, a bottle of water from the table under her arm. “I had my backpack in my car, so that was helpful.”

Both women expressed their gratitude to the employees at Ralphs for providing local residents a safe place to ride out the fire.

A steady stream of firefighters and police officers also found their way to the grocery store, one of the only businesses open Tuesday in the plaza at 2661 Green River Road.

“We do this because we have the people,” said Soria. “It really is our pleasure and privilege to be able to do this for the community and the firefighters and the police.”

This is how you support your community – Corona Ralphs provides haven, comfort for Canyon Fire evacuees https://t.co/MVsV1IIi6d — Vec (@vecturist) September 27, 2017