Heroics in Ojai-Area Fire

On Dec. 21, the night of the winter solstice, the fire and high winds that destroyed thousands of acres of forest and chaparral swept over the hilltops east of Ojai occupied by Meditation Mount and the Ojai Valley School. The local Fire Department and units from all over Southern California set up operations in the parking lot of Meditation Mount to continue battling the flames.

At about 4 a.m., as the fire was surrounding the Ojai Valley School on the next hill above Meditation Mount, our residents were told to evacuate. One of our resident staff, Tom Gregory with his Labrador retriever Sergeant, stayed to help fight the fire. They were soon joined by our nonresident groundskeeper David Kinney, who braved thick smoke to join the effort to save the Mount’s residences, offices and conference center. Thanks to the skill, courage and endurance of the experienced firefighters and the heroics of these two of our own brave men, all of our buildings were spared.

We have thanked David, Tom and Sarge, but we do not even know the names of the many firefighters we would like to thank directly. We hope this letter will reach at least some of them, to let them know that their heroism and selfless service will never be forgotten. We would welcome any of these heroes to stop by the Mount--we are open daily from 10 a.m. to sunset--to receive our thanks personally.

It is truly wonderful to belong to a community with such a wealth of human resources. Truly, we are all blessed when such danger gives us the opportunity to serve one another and to give thanks for being served.

JERIEL SMITH

Meditation Mount

Ojai