Selfless public servants

There is no sufficient way to thank the U.S. Forest Service firefighters and others from all around California for the protection they gave Thomas Aquinas College during the Thomas Fire.

Nevertheless, on behalf of our entire community, I extend to them my deepest gratitude. Were it not for their heroic efforts the night of Dec. 4, when fire surrounded our campus, it is likely we would have sustained considerable damage to our buildings and perhaps the loss of many.

They put their own lives at risk to preserve our residence halls and classrooms, our faculty hall and the commons building, our nearly completed lecture and concert hall, and all of our structures — including the crown jewel of our campus, Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel.

All that we have built these past 40 years could have been lost. But due to the courageous work of these selfless public servants, our campus is intact, and we will be able to open again in January for a second semester of classes.

We are forever in their debt and pray that God will abundantly bless these firefighters and their families and loved ones.

Editor: The author is president of Thomas Aquinas College.

Michael F. McLean, Santa Paula