Out of the Fire--A Community

Much has been made about the heroic efforts of firefighters in California as they worked earlier this month to save lives and homes from the largest fire in Los Angeles County history.

The firefighters came from all over. But where did they live?

http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_13337212

A makeshift town sprung up that housed these heroes. The Hansen Dam Recreation Area was transformed overnight into a community. And it was a community in every sense of the word.

It offered buildings to help the firefighters:

"Complete with showers, mobile sleepers, a dining tent and laundry trailer, the Station Fire made Hansen Dam home to more than 5,000 firefighters and support personnel for about two weeks."

It offered food and refreshment:

"Beyond the trailers, a dining tent served some 2,700 hungry firefighters anything from chicken-fried steak to fresh fruit, according to Incident Catering Service's on-site manager Chris Ball."

It offered housing:

"Across camp, firefighters could sleep in any one of 16 trailers brought in by the the Mobile Sleeper Company, a subcontractor to the U.S. Forest Service."

What about the washing and drying needs for the firefighters?

"About 2,800 pounds of laundry was cleaned daily by one of 20 washers and dryers brought in and operated by AAA laundry, according to AAA representative Peggy Burden."

And yes, even a trash service was provided:

"The California Conservation Corps cleaned the campground, stocked food and picked up litter, according California Conservation Corps supervisor Anthony Larios."

But as great as all of these services are, they pale in comparison to the main reason Hansen Dam became a community--because people cared about each other and were working together on a cause greater than themselves.

When people are busy saving lives and fighting fires all day, they don't have time to bicker at night over local politics or neighborhood ordinances. They are thankful for the blessings of community.

It's a good thing the fire is mostly finished. But it's a sad thing that the makeshift town of Hansen Dam is finished, too. That community had much to teach the rest of us.