A big thanks
Saturday August 22, 2015 the date the Peterson Fire erupted in Kelseyville, my husband and I are sitting in our living room thinking it’s about time for dinner and settling in for a relaxing evening. It was just an ordinary summer day. Suddenly, the room grew dark as if a giant cloud was passing over our house and shutting out all sunlight. It wasn’t a cloud, it was smoke. Stepping out the back door we saw huge flames, and heard the popping, hissing and whirring of a fire. The smoke was thick and black. We needed to get out of the area, and we needed to get our animals to safety and it didn’t look like we would have much time. Several horses, cattle, dogs, all needed to be moved from the fire’s path.
It is not possible to adequately describe in words the panic and terror that we went through. It also does not seem possible that we can in any way adequately express how thankful we are and how much we appreciate the outpouring of support we have received.
•Thank you to the 911 dispatcher, operator who was a friendly and calm voice on the other end of the line who tells you that they know what you are going through and there is help on the way.
•Thank you to our friends and neighbors who drove out to us, towards the fire to say ‘we are here, what can we do to help?’
•Thank you to the friends, family and community that without hesitation said, I have a place for you and your animals. We’ll help you, or bring the animals over and we will take care of them as long as you need.
•Thank you to the firefighters that drive into your driveway and straight up to the fire to fight it back. You arrived so fast and seeing you come in our driveway brought such a sense of relief. I don’t know if you realize this, but it does.
•Thank you to the firefighters who circled our home and made sure that it was prepared in the event the fire got through to it.
•Thank you to those who fly/crew those wonderful tankers and helicopters who arrived so quickly, and dropped water and fire retardant in the path between the fire and our home.
•Thank you to the firefighters and volunteers that worked tirelessly all through the nights with bulldozers, chainsaws, water tanks, hoses, shovels, and more to get the fire under control. Those who drive and fly over and around the perimeters of the fire all through the day and night tirelessly coordinating the attack. You are all amazing.
•Thank you to all the emergency responders and everyone who reached out to us to help.
It is very humbling to realize that in a blink of an eye, regardless of all the preparing and planning you may do, that an event can occur in your life where you are helped by others beyond what you can ever repay. There are not enough taxes we can pay, not enough community service that we can do, not enough thank you’s that we can say. A lifetime would never be enough. We want to say thank you and hope that you all realize how much you have touched our lives. We are so very thankful to God for all of you.
Curt and Bonnie Ingram, Kelseyville
A more complicated love
We all need to support law enforcement, especially in our spoken sentiments, every bit as much as we unreservedly support firefighters. It’s nice to see how much the firefighters are appreciated as they control one fire just as another arises. We all agree wildfires are a bad idea and that they must be controlled; fire is an unambiguous enemy. But there is another set of heroes that fight another type of enemy, one more ambiguous: Us.
Law enforcement officers fight to quell the darker aspects in our human nature. And while we ourselves are receiving a traffic ticket (or worse), we find ourselves reluctant to appreciate how they do their job.
We must remember that to the degree that we don’t follow the law, we become a small part of the “fire” that the police seek to put out before it grows to a dangerous level. Rules and laws by themselves do little to control “people behaving badly.” Laws need to have a “bite” to them. That’s what law enforcement is all about.
Both firefighters and law enforcement officers are human heroes and, as humans, are known to make mistakes. However this does not diminish their right to receive our support and cooperation. We need to especially remember the value of law enforcement while we, or someone dear to us, is on the receiving end of it. We otherwise resent these heroes.
Thanks to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Lakeport Police and our Highway Patrol. And as the signs say all over the county, “Thank you, firefighters.” You are all heroes.
Veronica Fisher, Lakeport
