Edhat Staff
By edhat staff
The community joined the Montecito Fire Department in a virtual remembrance ceremony of the 1/9 Debris Flow on Sunday evening.
Four years ago a devastating debris flow destroyed numerous homes and took 23 lives in Montecito.
The ceremony, titled “Raising Our Light,” was live-streamed for a second year due to an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor started the ceremony with a prayer while firefighters lit 23 candles to honor the lives lost.
“It’s my hope that people take away the community and everything that community means,” he said. “How important it is to help, love, nurture, support and raise up one another.”
A moment of silence was honored before bells rung 23 times. A searchlight was also lit from the station that could be seen from the south coast.
Video of the virtual ceremony can be viewed below:
Flood spotlight memorial at Montecito Union School for the 1/9 Debris Flow ceremony (Photos: John Dickson)
