Update on the Thomas Fire

To our many friends, colleagues, and clients,

We greatly appreciate the many emails asking if we are safe. The short answer is yes. As the fires cycle down, we have no injuries to our staff, consultants, and partners. We are all safe and thankful for it.  It was so very gratifying to be asked by so many of you.

The past week has been more than challenging in Southern California. From our vantage point in the small valley called Ojai (near Ventura and Santa Barbara) it has been intense in ways we have never seen: raging out of control fires spreading across the mountains that surround our Valley; encompassed by visible flames leaping hundreds of feet into the air; mandatory evacuations; in short, conditions we have just never seen or experienced before.

Ventura was hit hardest in terms of homes being lost. In our broad circle of friends and colleagues we know of more than 50 homes burned to the ground. Ojai less so, mostly in the upper valley and surrounding areas. Our office building is intact; however, air quality is now a serious problem for the whole area, and we are busy seeing to a supply of masks.

So, we are thankful, ready to start rebuilding, and stronger from the support of our community.