For the second time in as many years, our colleges — our community colleges— served the communities in which they reside. In response to the recent Saddleridge Fire, Pierce College served the community as a refuge for large animals (a good reason to leave the Pierce Farm as open space, not as developed space, as has been proposed). Mission College was closed because once again, it was in the center of the firestorm. Valley College closed out of recognition and respect for the freeway closures that kept many from getting to the college and to protect Valley students, faculty, and staff from having to breathe dangerous levels of particulates.