Public Safety
An Open Letter to the
Residents of Stallion Springs
The community of Stallion Springs came together to respond to the impacts of the four separate blazes now known as the Comanche Complex Fire. Fire crews worked ‘round the clock to protect structures and suppress flames. In the end, nearly 30,000 acres were scorched but no structures were lost.
Incident officials tell me that Stallion Springs has some of the best defensible space properties in the state. I walked the parameter of the fire and saw, first hand, how the blaze had crept just inches from homes, fences and outbuildings. I listened to residents as they shared their stories of fear, uncertainty, concern and finally, relief.
I applaud the fire hazard mitigation efforts of all our residents. It is visibly apparent that the limbing up of trees and cutting back of weeds made the difference between property saved and property lost.
Beyond that, I was proud to watch as:
- Fire and Law Enforcement personnel, from around the state, came along side quickly to help handle the situation;
- Residents evacuated the area in a calm, organized manner;
- CERT and community volunteers answered the call to disseminate information, manage the water tank dip site, move large animals, make sandwiches, load ice and hand out bottles of water;
- The 19th Hole at Horsethief Country Club, the Stallion Springs General Store, Woodward West and Albertsons contributed food and water to nourish those in the line of fire;
- CSD personnel kept water tanks full, answered phones, made copies, organized resources and took command of the incident;
- Area community leaders (Tehachapi city, Golden Hills and Bear Valley Springs) reached out to provide assistance - in any way possible.
Together, we supported the efforts of assigned fire agencies to mitigate this threat to our community. We have much to be proud of. The fact that no property was lost is a huge victory.
In retrospect, we can spend hours planning and envisioning how we will handle a community emergency, but the strength of our actions is revealed in the middle of the storm. During this incident we stayed strong, focused and effective. Were there glitches? Sure, but none we didn’t overcome.
I am proud to be associated with the talented staff, volunteers and residents of Stallion Springs. I am blessed to be a part of a greater community that reaches outside their immediate boundaries to lend a hand. Novelist Anthony Burgess penned “Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.”
In spite of our differences, the Comanche Complex Fire reinforced that sense of caring … that sense of community. I am proud to call Tehachapi my home.
Mary Beth Garrison
General Manager
Stallion Springs Community Services District
