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September 7, 2025
Dear Friends,
As we approach the ten-year anniversary of the Valley Fire on September 12th, 2025, we're reflecting on our journey we had thrust upon us that tragic day here at Harbin, and in the communities of Cobb, Middletown and beyond. Few, if any, knew how to handle a disaster of that scale. Most of us were at a loss of which direction to turn, where to sleep, where to eat, having basic necessities ripped away in a day.
Like pinecone seeds scattered to the wind, our journeys varied far and wide. Along the way we've lost loved ones to time, and the stress of the trauma has taken its toll in ways that can't quite yet be described. Our collective journey became one of understanding and cooperation as we reached new depths of compassion, empathy and patience.
As it has been for generations, the disaster brought neighbors closer, strengthened bonds and pushed our limits to work together to imagine and create a post-disaster reality. While some years were harder than others, resilience outweighed despair. Green hills began to appear, wildlife returned, and throughout it all, the waters never stopped flowing. The Valley Fire could not take away the spirit of the land or of the people of Lake County and Harbin Hot Springs.
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