Fire Prevention, Even in the Rain
By Margaret Magnus
Wildfires are an inevitability in Southern California where Meher Mount is located.
“…there is nothing unusual about fires in Los Angeles [Southern California], which is, after all, a desert city [region] with only two distinct seasons: one beginning in January and lasting three or four months, during which storms come from the northern Pacific and it rains… and one lasting eight or nine months, during which it burns or gets ready to burn.” (Joan Didion, “Fire Season in Los Angeles,” September 4, 1989, The New Yorker)
Fire Prevention in the Rain
That’s why, even in the December pouring rain, Caretaker Eric Carlson was tending to fire prevention. He sent this email describing the day’s activities:
A NEW fire extinguisher in the Workshop at Meher Mount. (Photo: Eric Carlson, December 2021)
“We had a fire extinguisher service visit Meher Mount today [December 29, 2021], and they replaced our two outdated fire extinguishers and added three more.
“We now have them in the house, garage workshop, water treatment system shed, and one mounted to each tractor.
“Alliance will also be servicing the extinguishers annually. I am feeling a lot better about this level of protection, especially on the tractors (for field emergencies) and the water treatment system.”
Building a Connection of the Heart
But, of course, in Meher Baba’s world, the heart of the matter isn’t just fire protection. It is building His connections and using every opportunity to touch a heart.
The inspiring part of Eric’s email…
“It was also interesting how much the person from Alliance was asking about the property. When I mentioned Meher Baba and explained that He called Himself the Ancient One, who comes back every 700 years to give Creation a push, he said he got goosebumps.
“When we were installing the extinguisher at the water treatment shed, I was telling him about Baba’s Tree, and even though it was cold, blowing and raining, he wanted to walk out to Baba’s Tree and see the spot where Meher Baba sat in meditation.
“After the install, he came inside to warm up with some tea, again asking about Meher Baba. As he left, he took with him copies of the Meher Mount and prayer brochures for himself and his daughter saying he would be back in the spring to go out to the Tree. It was clear from the connection that Meher Baba was orchestrating it all.”
Seems like a good way to start the new year.