The fire, now labeled the Goodenough Incident, was the fiercest thing of its kind I’ve witnessed in Fillmore during the past 25 years. Driven by near hurricane force wind at times, it jumped from a mobile home on the west side of Goodenough Road to 100-foot high palm trees and avocado orchards across the road in a matter of seconds.

The wind was from the north, unusual in itself, then whipped around the point, heading southeast above Foothill Road.

It would have been much worse had the wind not calmed down considerably at nightfall. No doubt many residents were praying-up a storm of their own. No structures in the city were destroyed or damaged. One tragedy occurred during the first stage of the fire; the beautifully situated Wokal home atop the hill in the 1200 block of Goodenough Road was nearly destroyed. Valliant efforts by Ventura County firefighters were able to save part of the home and assist in the removal of some personal property.

I recall several other ferocious, and far larger, wildfires in years past. The difference here is that we were immediately in the midst of it all. Flaming palm fronds and other debris from palm trees were carried hundreds of yards in the firestorm, and quickly started dozens of new fires downwind. Flames raced through thick layers of dry avocado leaves allowed to accumulate by farmers growing their crops organically. That carpet of leaves exploded in flame and raced through the groves as though they were sprayed with gasoline.

The fire consumed approximately 147 acres of trees and brush.

As usual, the residents of Fillmore cooperated in assisting firefighters and threatened homeowners. I will try to publish a fairly complete list of those who assisted in this effort in next week’s Gazette. In the meantime many thanks are due for all the quick assistance provided from many different fire departments from at least three counties, our council members, and several department heads at city hall. Special thanks to our Sheriff’s department, Search and Rescue, Citizens Patrol and many others.

Thanks to all who helped us dodge the bullet, once again. Also look for more spectacular photos from Bob Crum, online and in the Gazette.

Coverage from area television station:

The Midyear Budget Review and a Ten Year General Fund Analysis were presented at Tuesday's Fillmore City Council Meeting despite the fact that most sitting at the dais had had very little sleep the night before due to the Goodenough Fire that threatened the town.

A Financial Analyst, Frank Catania, was hired late January and presented the Council a Ten Year General Fund Analysis on where the City has been and where it may be headed, depending on different factors. Acting Finance Director Glenda D. Jay also presented a Midyear Budget Review which also was heavily dependent on varying factors.

The varying factors both Catania and Jay spoke of are the $2.9 million overpayment by the Board of Equalization (BOE) in FY 2008-09 and the 2003 Tax Sharing Agreements that have been in negotiations with BOE for the past three years. The overpayment was an error on the part of the BOE. The Tax Sharing Agreement concerned businesses that had an office located in Fillmore where their sales tax was credited, but the actual warehouses from where their products were shipped were located in various other cities. Those cities sued Fillmore stating the sales tax revenue should be credited to them. According to Catania this disagreement has resulted in millions of dollars being withheld by the BOE, adding that at the end of last year "...the BOE has withheld in excess of $25.6 million of local sales tax revenue due to the City....normally the City would retain $2.9 million of these withheld funds." Adding to this is the fact that the BOE is requiring Fillmore to pay back the overpayment by withholding its percentage of Sales Tax due the City. The FY 2011-12 Financial Statements show a $1.0 million unpaid balance owed to the BOE from the overpayment, along with an estimated $1.3 million future liability resulting from the sales tax sharing agreements; but that number could change when negotiations are finalized. Councilman Douglas Tucker asked how much money the BOE has held back in the last five years but was told by the City Attorney Tiffany Israel that that could only be discussed in closed session. Tucker then remarked that there was some confusion over the amount and said the previous City Attorney Ted Schneider disagreed with those numbers and he would like both Schneider and Israel to get together on the numbers to "know we're all on the same page" adding that having some historical knowledge might be helpful. There was then some discussion on how the BOE does not give out much information on such items basically leaving Fillmore to accept what amounts the BOE send them.

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