On November 18, the Montecito Firefighters’ Charitable Foundation (MFCF) held a heartwarming Thanksgiving Celebration at the Biltmore’s Coral Casino to honor community heroes and raise funds for the foundation.
About 250 guests mingled on La Pacifica Ballroom Terrace before adjourning to the dining room, where Emcee Geoff Green welcomed them. A short film narrated by firefighters on the 1/9 Debris Flow recounted traumatic and uplifting moments after the debris flow, including when Firefighter Andy Rupp heard a voice coming from a large debris flow. When he reached for what appeared to be a twig, he heard someone say “ouch.” That someone was Lauren Cantin, and the twig was her hair. After responders cautiously cut a thick tree branch pinning down her leg, Cantin was able to climb out. Firefighter Paramedic (and MFCF Board Secretary) Shawn Whilt recounted the treacherous conditions each day, noting how his colleague, Firefighter Steve Cochran, had a knack for falling into swimming pools disguised by the mud and debris.
After the film, Engineer (and Board VP) Lucas Grant related how in the debris flow aftermath, community members stepped up in such a tremendous way that the foundation wanted to honor some of those unsung heroes at the event. Berna Kieler was honored for founding the Recovery Free Store, which gathered clothing donations for debris flow victims. Taiana Giefer was honored for volunteering to run the shop. In presenting the award to Giefer, Whilt noted that on top of being the manager, Giefer was also the volunteer coordinator, publicist, DJ, housekeeper, and coffee mule.