Words of Gratitude for Firefighters

Re “4 Teenagers Are Cited in Blaze That Chars 600 Acres in Thousand Oaks,” Dec. 27.

This is a letter of gratitude to our firefighters.

It was the morning after Christmas that I saw red. It wasn’t the sight of Santa’s suit. I wasn’t angry. It wasn’t even the thought that we were taking another beating in the stock market. The red I saw at 3 a.m. outside our bedroom window was the sky filled with flames.

Before I could get my kids dressed, packed and down the stairs, we heard fire engines. Not one, not two but 20.

My husband raced outside to find out where exactly the fire was and where it could be going. The 30 mph winds caused the fire to spread quickly through the dry brush on our hillsides.

Even though firefighters told us we were safe if we closed all the windows, I did not want to take any chances. I wanted my children out of the smoke, confusion and fear. I threw 35 scrapbooks into trash bags and dumped them into the car. We also took our portable safe will all of our important papers and some jewelry. We then loaded the dog, bird and the kids.

I called 12 of my neighbors and told them about the fire. I waited for my best friend to meet me at Westlake High School, so she could take my family to her house many safe miles away.

The fire had spread to my neighbor’s house and it looked like she needed help. At that moment I began to fully appreciate our firefighters. Hundreds of men and women battled the fire through horrible winds, toxic smoke, intense flames and burning embers.

After the fire had finally been contained, my 10-year-old son and I went down to five out of probably 50 stations from Ventura, Malibu and Los Angeles, that had been called to help. We dropped off cakes, cookies and candy as a thank you from all of us at our still-intact community.

Every time we told some firefighters how much we appreciated their efforts, they had the same response: “You made out job easier because everyone in your neighborhood had proper weed clearance.”

I know I speak for everyone in the North Ranch Country Club Estates and all the surrounding neighborhoods when I say thank you, firefighters. May God bless you every day and keep you safe.

MARLA SCHRAM

SCHWARTZ

Westlake Village