It was a summer afternoon in Santa Barbara County when the destructive 2017 Whittier Fire tore through the site of the Rancho Alegre Boy Scout camp and The Outdoor School near Lake Cachuma.
More than four years ago, the majority of buildings at the Santa Ynez Valley camp and The Outdoor School burned to the ground that July.
The wildfire also charred surrounding drought-stricken vegetation.
Residents and campers throughout the area were forced to evacuate after the fire ignited and raced along Highway 154.
The blaze destroyed more than 200 acres of wooded buildings at the camp, including 47 of the 50 structures that had been built over 52 years.
Since then, the Boy Scouts of America’s Los Padres Council has decided to rebuild, and the work to construct 13 buildings has been underway to renovate the historic camp.
If all goes well, The Outdoor School is scheduled to reopen in fall 2022, according to Glen Goddard, program director.
“We’re about 60% done with the project,” Goddard told Noozhawk. “Now, we’re still in the middle of constructing our buildings.”
Two 6-bedroom buildings for staff are under construction, and three 2-bedroom structures have the roofs, windows and doors completed.
“It’s the interiors that are now remaining,” Goddard said.
Plans call for installing fire sprinkler systems that are required to be inspected.
“Therein lies the rub,” Goddard said. “The Fire Department tells us that they can’t inspect our buildings until we get our road up to speed.”
The entrance roadway into Rancho Alegre needs to be widened to allow for heavy equipment, such as emergency vehicles, to safely come and go into camp. The upgraded roadway must also have turnout areas and be paved before more camp rebuilding plans can be finished.
Staff evacuating during the Whittier Fire in 2017 used the entrance roadway to exit the area.
“They took that road out,” Goddard said. “They didn’t have much time.”
Grading work still needs to be completed, and walkways and other pathways must be compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act, or ADA.
Water, electrical and sewage lines are installed as part of the project, but ended up costing more than expected.
The project costs are rising for a variety of reasons, Goddard said.
Construction on the project is estimated to cost more than $18 million, Goddard said.
“During COVID-19, money became less,” Goddard said. “We’re still looking for about another $4 million to complete this project.”
Nearly three months after the wildfire ignited on a hillside above neighboring Camp Whittier, the 18,430-acre Whittier Fire was declared completely contained in October 2017.
The Outdoor School is an overnight environmental education program serving the Central Coast area for about 50 years, according to Los Padres Council BSA officials.
Rancho Alegre has served more than 10,000 boys and girls annually.
In late June, the Los Padres Council invited Eagle Scouts to its first “Gathering of Eagles” event at camp Rancho Alegre. The gathering featured a networking lunch for about 75 attendees, who also had an opportunity to meet fellow area Eagle Scouts.
Eagle Scout James R. Lewis, who is the Pismo Beach city manager, served as the guest speaker at the event.
“That was our first real gathering of scouts present and past who are Eagle Scouts,” Goddard said. “It was a great event, and we were able to show off the camp.”
Additionally, members of the Los Padres Council, Boy Scouts of America Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties also celebrated its first class of female Eagle Scouts. Four local girls achieved the rank.
“That’s a milestone,” Goddard said. “It’s a huge deal within the scouting community. We have young ladies that are enjoying scouting. Eagle Scout is a big accomplishment for these young ladies.”
— Noozhawk staff writer Brooke Holland can be reached at bholland@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
