In this week of Thanksgiving, I am grateful for many things. Like many people, I place my family at the top of my list. But not far from the top is the fact that this year we had no dangerous wildfire to threaten us. Given the history of fire in our region, a year without a big, awful fire is a year to be appreciated.

For some who are new to the mountains, my gratitude may seem a bit exaggerated. But those who have lived here or in southern California this past decade will probably understand. In 2003 and 2007, Santa Ana wind driven fires were so powerful that the smoke plumes were easily visible from orbiting satellites. In the fall of 2003, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County burned over 280,000 acres, killed 15 people, and destroyed 2,232 homes. The Old Fire Complex, burning at the same time in San Bernardino, burned over 91,000 acres, caused 6 deaths, and destroyed 993 homes. These were true catastrophes, all the more terrifying because they were going on at the same time, along with many other fires in southern California. At times it seemed they could not be stopped.

Only four years later in 2007, catastrophe struck again. Santa Ana driven fires were burning all over socal, with massive fires happening again south of us in San Diego County. The worst of these fires was called the Witch Creek Fire, which burned 198,000 acres, caused 2 deaths, and destroyed 1040 homes. At the same time on a smaller scale, two fires burned in the San Bernardino Mountains, west and southeast of Lake Arrowhead. The Grass Valley and Slide fires burned in terrain very much like our own, and together burned 14,000 acres and destroyed 375 homes.

2003 and 2007 were extraordinary years for fire catastrophes, but smaller fires can also cause searing grief. In a Santa Ana wind in the fall of 2006, an arsonist started a fire in Cabazon, causing it to race up the hill in the early hours. Though the Esperanza Fire burned few structures and only a fraction of the Cedar or Witch Creek acreage (40,000), it killed five US Forest Service firefighters from the Alandale station, including Captain Mark Loutzenhiser of Idyllwild. It was a terrible loss for Idyllwild, and it is hard to think it will ever be forgotten.

Last August we saw, literally, the Cottonwood Fire, which began on Highway 74. This was a relatively minor fire, burning only 2400 acres and causing no deaths, but it was enough to scare all of us who saw the dark plume heading our way before the fire agencies got it under control.

This year we were fortunate. Moisture levels in the chaparral and forest were good, temperatures were cooler than usual, and the Santa Anas were mild. We did have two houses burn down on separate occasions, and though they were keen losses for the owners, no one was hurt and the fires were contained to the houses in which they ignited. We had several lightening caused fires within monsoonal storms, but the Forest Service either put them out before they spread or let the rain douse them in isolated terrain.

So it was a good year, and I am grateful. I hope we are as fortunate next year, but I won't count on it.