Join the Ventura County Heritage Board for a new installment of their guest speaker series, “Ventura County Chronicles: Fire, Freight & Freeways.”
Our first guest speaker Betsy J. Green, is a seasoned writer and historian, who will explore the dramatic history of local wildfires. Her presentation, “From Buckets to Bulldozers: Wildfires Then and Now,” compares the Great Forest Fires of 1917 with the Thomas Fire of 2017, offering insight into how fire response has evolved over the past century. Betsy is a former editor at Reader’s Digest and World Book Encyclopedia and the author of more than a dozen books on local history. She has presented at numerous venues including the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, the Maritime Museum, and various community groups.
Expect a fascinating journey through time— from the days of fighting flames with brooms and buckets to today’s high-tech firefighting tools.
Date: Monday, September 22, 2025
Time: 1:15 PM
Location: Hall of Administration – Multipurpose Room