Camp Whitsett, WLACC
McNally Fire Page
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Peri Van Brunt, the 46-year-old woman accused of starting the McNally Fire, agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 18 months in jail. She originally faced a felony charge, which carried a maximum of 5 years. Van Brunt pleaded guilty to the charge of accidentally starting the fire which burned over 150,000 acres, and currently (with re-hab expenses added in) cost over $140 million. During the first hours of the conflagration, the fire destroyed Road's End Resort, and caused the evacuation of Camp Whitsett, Johnsondale (The "R" Ranch) and Pyles Boys' Camp. Van Brunt faces mandatory restitution charges (to pay back the $140 million). She was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and has to make restitution for the costs incurred to fight the fire, to manage the area after the fire, and to rehabilitate the National Forest. She will never be able to pay back the expense nor the devastation caused to land and life.

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Bomber dropping Fire Retardant on Sentinel

 
 
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Fire Story
and Links
Drive up the
Kern River
Reflections
Pictures
Home Page
HISTORY PAGE

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We would like to thank the following
for their efforts on behalf of Camp Whitsett
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Mr. Jim Uny, our Camp Ranger who stayed to defend Camp
. Mr. I. J. Blevens, District Superintendent Hot Springs School District .
P.O. Box 38, California Hot Springs, CA 93207-0038
. The Porterville Wal-Mart .
120 W. Henderson, Ave., Porterville, CA  93257
. Boy Scout Troop 132, Porterville .
. Boy Scout Troop 317, Visalia .
. The Tulare-Kings Chapter of the American Red Cross .
505 W Main St, Visalia, CA 93291
. Mr. Art Gaffrey, Superintendent of Sequoia National Forest .
900 W. Grand Avenue, Porterville, CA 93257
. ALL the fire fighters who helped keep Whitsett safe .
. The Scouts and Leaders whose Whitsett stay was cut short .
. The Whitsett Staff whose Entire Summer was cut short .
. Ernest Lessenger, whose computer kept us "linked" while waiting in Porterville .
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Sherry Christiansen - our Camping Secretary, for answering the THOUSANDS of
phone calls and arranging for units who missed out on the Whitsett Experience
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Agencies involved with the Fire Fighting Efforts
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U.S. Forest Service
National Park Service
Bureau of Land Management
County Fire Departments from all over the State
California Department of Forestry
Hanford Weather Center
Private Contractors
California Office of Emergency Services
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This web page created and maintained by Chuck Smith
chuckysmith@yahoo.com