Hi there, it’s Vanessa, your ENLIGHTENMENT salon host.

Reading about all the big fires that have surrounded us and made global headlines over the past few years (i.e., Camp, Caldor, Creek, North Complex, and now the ones this week), I’ve always wondered what it’s like to be a firefighter on the front lines of these record-breaking wildfires and have many questions..

How do you know which way to go through thick smoke? How do you stay cool, and keep a cool head, in those fiery flames? How do you handle all this while trying to save lives, including your own? And do you get the support you need so that you’re not suffering from PTSD?

I thought January would be a perfect time to hold this conversation — it has rained and there’s snow in the Sierra Nevadas, so firefighters have plenty of down time, right?

Well, the firefighters who happily agreed in early January to talk are currently fighting the worst fires in Los Angeles’ history, so THE DATE FOR THIS MAY CHANGE, depending on the fire weather.

But optimistically, please join me in talking with three veteran firefighters — one who works on the front lines, another who manages a “hand crew” (those who work those front lines), and the former head of CalFire who had the final say on all the decisions made to fight some of California’s largest wildfires on record. Bring your questions to combine with mine so we can learn what it takes to fight fires — physically, mentally and emotionally — in our state where it’s now apparently always going to be Fire Season.

* Gene Lopez, wildland firefighter at Firestorm Wildland Fire Suppression Inc. in Chico
* Ken Pimlott, former chief of CAL FIRE from 2011 to 2018, and current board chair of EI Dorado County Fire Safe Council
* David Whitt, chief of Pioneer Fire Protection District in Amador County

Ruhstaller’s BSMT has a variety of beers on tap, as well as wine, kombucha and sparkling water. Please feel free to BYO food and nonalcoholic beverages.

To claim your seat, register here on our Eventbrite page..