The Santa Ynez Valley Foundation announced on Dec. 25 that it would give a special $7,000 grant to the Circle V Ranch Camp and Retreat Center, a Catholic summer camp near Cachuma Lake that was badly damaged during the Whittier Fire.
The fire, which ignited near the camp in July 2017, trapped more than 80 staff and campers on the grounds for two hours. Although campers and staff were all eventually rescued without injury, the fire rapidly burned through much of the camp’s grounds, destroying its health and craft lodges and seriously damaging the water treatment facility and pipes.
Since then, all camp activities have been canceled, according to Susana Santana, deputy executive director for the Society of St. Vincent DePaul of Los Angeles, the nonprofit that runs the Circle V Ranch Camp. All fees paid were refunded, and camp activities were not relocated.
“We haven’t been able to host anything because we don’t have any running water,” Santana said. “Water is the life of the camp, and that’s what’s holding us back. But we were very grateful that the majority of our camp survived.”
Although Santana said it is unclear exactly how much it will cost to fully rebuild the camp’s facilities, she said the fire caused several hundred thousand dollars in damages. Insurance won’t be able to cover everything.
“Every dollar helps,” Santana said. “We are looking for people to help us with the rebuilding process. We are definitely very grateful for this donation.”
The Santa Ynez Valley Foundation’s grant will go toward rebuilding efforts, which Santana said are still in very early stages. Still, camp leadership hopes to have Circe V Ranch Camp up and running again by the summer of 2018.
“We are pleased to make a special donation to contribute to rebuilding Circle V Ranch Camp,” Santa Ynez Valley Foundation Executive Director Anne Christensen said in a press release. “Our mission of helping local youth is one that is embraced by everyone at the camp as well.”
This article appears in Jan 4-11, 2018.
