Thomas Fire
Cattle Ranchers Battle the Flames
On December 4, the text message from Bud Sloan’s friend said that there was a fire in Santa Paula. Ironically, Bud had been preparing for a controlled burn a few…
Read MoreFacing down a freight train of fire
Canada Larga canyon was a windstorm. The trees bent and nearly buckled as the westerly wind howled down the canyon. Smoke smell permeated everything and the moon was a bright…
Read More“Can you hear me now?” – Bentley Ranch keeps lines of communication open
Clif Simonson had been a busy man. When the Thomas Fire swept through his area, the manager of the 1,000 acre Bentley Ranch south of Ojai had immediately swung into…
Read MoreThe Oasis that Held Back the Flames
It only took the helicopter 3 minutes. From the shore of his irrigation reservoir, Jurgen Gramckow watched it swoop toward the water, creating a ring of white spray beneath it…
Read MoreRetired Fire Chief Bob Roper tells why
In 2009, the Ventura County Fire Protection District produced a Fire Management Plan that identified the “Ventura Fuel Bed” (see map) as part of its countywide wildland fire prevention program. This fuel…
Read MoreThomas Fire Highlights Risk of Wildlife Corridor Restrictions
“I have a place in my heart for the town,” Cliff Simonson said, speaking about Ojai in the aftermath of the Thomas Fire. The manager of the 1,000 acre Bentley…
Read MoreCounty Provides Relief to Homeowners in Wake of Thomas Fire
In the wake of the destructive impact of the Thomas Fire, the County of Ventura has made initial steps toward helping affected residents and property owners. The County has collaborated…
Read MoreBentley Ranch Holds the Line
Clif Simonson was supposed to go to a budget meeting Tuesday. Then the Thomas Fire swept through Ventura County. The manager of the 1,000 acre Bentley Ranch adjacent to the…
Read MoreConservation Trust Saves More than Hillsides
Ventura County, “home of the two trees”, has a whole new meaning in light of the Thomas fire. When the smoke cleared above the Ventura hillside revealing housing tracts that…
Read MoreVolunteers Rally to Help Ventura Horses After Thomas Fire
Aera Energy employee Louise Lampara was one of thousands forced to evacuate their Ventura homes on the night of Monday, Dec. 4 as the Thomas Fire raced toward the city…
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