A Memoir of Ananda's 8/28/04 Fire -- part 2 (continued)
An incredible number and variety of fire teams and equipment converge on the Village from as far away as Truckee and Roseville. Were this not such a serious situation, it would all seem like a colorful parade rather like the Fourth of July.
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Perhaps this Tahoe Helitack truck from the national Forest Service furnishes ground support for the 'copter now parked on our former ball court (not shown).
At "The Draw," two California Department of Forestry (CDF) engines pass each other.
I have no idea what the third truck is for. It seems to be some kind of equipment transporter.
Let's hear it for the brave firefighters, many of them unpaid volunteers, ready to drop everything and move on a fire, even many miles away, at a moment's notice! |
Ten fire districts have been called on for help. It will be awhile (mercifully!) before we learn why: officials managing the fires in and near Ananda now expect them to combine and continue for several days, just like the "49er" fire of the late 1980s. The Village will serve as the base of operations because of our amenities and relationship with the local fire chief.
The only reason we are blessed with this massive outpouring of assistance is that there are no competing fires nearby today.
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Colorful CDF (California Department of Forestry) planes fly by every few minutes. |
The firefighters quickly become a welcome part of our community. We sometimes wave and make victory signs as they pass. They in turn are grateful for our assistance when needed as well as for staying out of their way otherwise so they can do their job.
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Firefighters fill up near the Market. Ananda Village has the rare distinction on the Ridge as a "hydranted community." Our ponds do more than provide a pretty sight today! |
At several points, the local fire chief drops by to give further updates. He and Ananda are longtime partners and friends. He's often praised our preventive brush clearing. He says there are now seven fires in the immediate area, all but one outside Ananda. Arson is suspected. There are descriptions of a suspicious truck.
On one of his busiest fire days ever,
North San Juan Fire Chief
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As Master's Market and lawn are Ananda's physical center today, so too is Mother Truckers, a crossroads store a couple of miles away, the gathering point for Ridge residents and even Villagers stranded due to road closures. It will be hours before Route 49 and Tyler-Foote Road re-open. The stranded have a birdseye view of several of the other fires.
Long stretches of time go by in the Village with little news.
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A haze of news and rumors, like smoke, keeps drifting in for eager ears. |
Our hopes have been growing that Ananda may escape a repeat of the fire of 1976 that leveled nearly all community structures. We've been counting our blessings all afternoon. After all, we've had several miracles, losing only one small structure even though several others were threatened.We have much outside fire support. And in particular, the fire could have come late last week when the wind was up . . .
But oh, fickle wind. Word comes that it has just shifted, carrying fire from Expanding Light. It's headed toward Kailash!
Spearheaded by Devi, prayer warriors once again leap into action. As always, we call on God and our gurus, recalling their saving power.
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AUM-mmmm-mmmmm! |
So often today I am impressed with the centered strength and buoyant hope of Jyotish and Devi, our spiritual leaders -- all the more because they went through the 1976 fire. How hard, I imagine, it must be for them to keep that day in the background today. Jyotish shrugs off this observation when I share it with him. Why, there's no comparison, he says. In the earlier fire, the sky was black with smoke and propane tanks exploding all around the Village. Today's fire is practically nothing.
Seeing Devi perched on the fountain rim at one point, I ask for further news about Kailash. She has none, but knowing I live there, she reaches out to touch my arm . She inquires, "How are you doing?" She must have reached out in a similar caring gesture many times today.
"Fine," I reply. And I mean it. I am determined to follow her example of strength and hope, no matter what the wind blows.
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We remain upbeat . . . even joyful . . . amid our concerns. |
It seems an eternity, but word arrives that Kailash Cluster has been spared. Fire had leaped across a wide fire line close to our little temple but was caught in time. All of us at Kailash are greatly indebted. Whenever we see that fire line -- perhaps months or years later -- we will remember.
Some of our intrepid Ananda volunteers trek back from the Expanding Light, now that things are under control there. Each will have a unique story to tell. A few put out flames directly. Others helped make fire lines. Several were "slimed" by goopy fire retardant dropped by a CDF plane on everything in the line of fire!
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The fact that the red borate is unlikely to wash out of this jersey will merely make it a keepsake! |
By late afternoon, we're told that finally, everyone can return home. All, that is, except the 45 Expanding Light guests on -- of all things -- a First Timers' Weekend! The plan for them is to stay with Villagers. Most, though, decide to leave, asking Ananda just to keep their money and voicing appreciation for a direct example of how our teachings can be lived even in the face of difficulty.
We also receive two invitations:
Relieved community members head for their cars. Single file, they proceed homeward up Brotherhood Way. How meaningful that name has become today.
Rarely has home looked so wonderful, mainly because it's still there!
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Words of some of Ananda's music come alive as never before: "Home's the end of the fray." |
(this is the 2nd of 3 pages)
