RANCHO SANTA FE — About 60 people gathered Jan. 27 to show their gratitude to firefighters, law enforcement and medical personnel who responded to the Witch Creek Fire last October. The First Responders Party, sponsored by The Inn and the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, featured music by the Peter Pupping Quartet.

The event was held in the Garden Room at The Inn. Jim Ashcraft, president of the board of the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District, spoke to the crowd, along with fire Chief Nick Pavone and Jack Baca, pastor of the Village Church.

Ashcraft thanked The Inn for providing food for firefighters during the firestorm, and lodging for the National Guard. He also acknowledged the Village Church for feeding firefighters and providing a place for them to sleep and clean up.

He reminded the community that this was a close call and said that firefighters rose to unbelievable levels to protect the area from the fire. Ashcraft called on the community and environmentalists to work together because he said the Escondido Creek and San Dieguito Riverbed are vulnerable and the next fire could be far more serious.          

Baca spoke about what a blessing it is for people to live in this area and to be able to support and encourage each other.

“So many times people fight over zoning regulations and that sort of thing,” he said after his presentation. “But it’s good to remember that we’re here to live together and get along with each other.”

Pavone said he was overwhelmed by the community support.

What does he think will make a difference next time a fire reaches the village? “Awareness,” he said. “And people need to take a bit more responsibility in clearing defensible space.”

One firefighter mingling in the crowd, Rich Foster, recalled a specific danger of the Witch Creek Fire.

“We’re always warning people about eucalyptus, but we lost a lot of homes to palm trees,” he said. “One tree would throw fronds with embers two blocks away and set a house on fire.”

“It’s nice to see that people understand what we’re doing for them. This community cooperated very well with us during the fires,” said Justin White, a sheriff’s sergeant at the Encinitas patrol station.

Residents are backing that community spirit with cash contributions to the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation’s various funds.

“People are wanting to help,” said Executive Director Christy Wilson. “Some are so grateful that they didn’t lose their own homes.”

The foundation has raised $30,000 toward its goal of $50,000 for the Del Dios fire victims. That money has come from individual donations.

Three businesses have given to the foundation’s First Responders or Good Samaritan Fund, including Sid and Jenny Craig, who donated $100,000. The Good Samaritan Fund is designed to offer immediate assistance to people who live and work within the fire protection district.

Wilson estimates that the foundation has given away about $100,000 so far.

“There are ongoing needs,” she said.

The Village Church is still working with about eight families, and providing a weekly support group. There also are localized pockets of fundraising still planned.

People at the event were able to pick up a copy of “The Disaster Recovery Handbook and Household Inventory Guide,” by Amy Bach and Carol Ingalls Custodio. The Village Church donated the money to have 5,000 copies of the book reprinted.

Donations to the foundation’s fire recovery funds are 100 percent designated for victims of the fires. Cash donations may be sent to the foundation at P.O. Box 811, Rancho Santa Fe, California, 92067. Checks should be made payable to Rancho Santa Fe Foundation and should specify the name of the fund — Good Samaritan, Disaster Relief or First Responders Fund. For information on how to donate by credit card, e-mail Christy Wilson at info@rsffoundation.org.

For more information, visit www.rsffoundation.org/disaster relief.html. People who need financial assistance can complete a form on the Web site.