Thoughts from Dr. Joe:On a Fiery Night

Some of our classrooms aren’t classrooms and upon returning from the La Cañada Elementary School fourth grade field trip at the “Lazy W Ranch” I am convinced that learning is subliminal and life throws us challenges disguised as adversity. We define ourselves by how we react.

Last week, the fourth graders headed to the hills in the Cleveland National Forest to learn about natural history. The “Time Capsule” program exposed the children to lessons about ecosystems, native cultures and the infusion of Spanish influence. The kids made bricks, dipped candles, mashed corn, built dwellings, studied aquatic ecology catching frogs and toe biters; bird watched, handled snakes, measured solar radiation and soil moisture, and learned the medicinal nature of native plants.

Time Capsule was a brilliant educational experience. But frankly, school really began at 4:30 a.m. Friday morning. The children, teachers, chaperones and staff were summoned to class by the shrill of a blaring siren. There was a fire … a pretty big one … and so the lessons began.

The stage was set for a worrisome night because the evening prior was warm and windy, all 14 cabins were occupied and the chaparral was exceedingly dry. A fog of irony weaved into the mix, for it was 13 years ago to the day that the Lazy W Ranch had its last major fire, which burned 20,000 acres.

As a Marine officer I’ve witnessed much crisis and have learned that whatever can go wrong will. But last Friday morning, when Carter McCoy, formerly of La Cañada, tripped the siren whatever could go wrong didn’t.

The Ocean Institute staff, Carter McCoy, Serena Neff, Jenna-Vie Riiboz, Jill Shook and Sara Ludovise, under the leadership of Greg Hermann, jumped into action and led the evacuation of 120 children and adults to the fire safe zone. The chaperones counted the children, re-counted and then counted again just to be sure.

The children sat in the fire safe zone, played games, joked with the staff and chaperones, and watched the blazing fire and exploding brush across the ravine. The firefighters came en force and with all the children safe they quickly turned their mighty armada on the blaze. Dawn came and at first light we saw firefighters circling the smoldering hill and cutting a clearing with chainsaws. They had knocked it down and the battle was over.

Meanwhile, back home, Kaitzer initiated the phone chain notifying parents of the fire and the good news their children were safe, awaiting evacuation. Ivette Ellis, LCE principal, drove to the Ocean Institute in Dana Point to await the children’s arrival. Overwhelmingly, cooler heads prevailed. In times of crisis cooler heads must always prevail. Always!

Fortune plays a minor role in shaping events. What determines the outcome is what we bring to the table. I’ve seen competency under fire and our teachers Sue Fuelling, Laurie Hopkins and Dale Feryberger stepped up and performed brilliantly. Leadership is a moment in time and best revealed over duration but sometimes during duress it surfaces suddenly. Laurie, Sue and Dale made me proud and indeed are some of La Cañada’s finest.

Perhaps now you’ll know why, when I’m in the field, I sleep with all my clothes on; yep, even my boots. It’s a habit I learned in Vietnam. Getting the jump on an emergency pays big dividends. And you just thought I was eccentric. I am eccentric; but there’s always a method to my madness.

The teamwork between the teachers, the Ocean Institute and Lazy W staffs, the chaperones, the firefighters and children prevented further escalation of a rather precarious situation.

What I will remember most is the fortitude of the children. They weathered the storm and made a good accounting of themselves. There were a few tears, some anxiety, and a few upset stomachs; but there was no trauma in the fire safe zone. Character is defined through adversity and that was the weekend’s greatest lesson. The 4th graders from La Cañada stepped up and that’s exactly what I expected them to do.

In the early morning hours we marched off the hill between rows of firefighters and equipment and headed to the Ocean Institute. Mrs. Ellis and the teachers decided to resume the program and not to immediately head for home. That was a great decision because it brought normalcy to the children and defied playing into the hands of defeatism. That’s how you build character!

The staff of the Ocean Institute treated us like royalty. After dissecting fish, learning about whales and sea anenomes it was time to leave.

As the children boarded the buses they walked through rows of cheering staff. We pulled away … good-byes were shouted back and forth … and I saw a few tears in Greg Hermann’s eyes. Bonds of friendship were made that fiery night and so was character.

I wouldn’t have had it any other way; and even Kipling couldn’t have written a better ending.

Write Joe Puglia via e-mail at https://captinjoey@yahoo.com or via the Valley Sun, P.O. Box 38, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91012.