County recognizes volunteer 'Sifters' who helped recover belongings after Mountain Fire

Supervisor Gorrell presented a proclamation on April 8 recognizing an informal volunteer group called the Sifters for their role recovering personal belongings after the Mountain Fire.

Supervisor Gorrell said 189 families lost homes in the fire and described the Sifters as neighbors who organized to assist survivors by sorting debris, recovering keepsakes and helping families achieve closure. Ron Topolinski, a retired firefighter who helped organize the volunteers, described how the group formed after neighbors asked for help and how retired firefighters and other volunteers brought their own tools and equipment to sift debris safely.

Topolinski said the Sifters built multistage sifters to speed searches and set up sifting stations away from debris piles to improve safety and efficiency. He said the group helped more than a dozen homes and that in some cases they “reverse sifted” urn ashes to preserve human remains. He credited volunteers including Jim Ackerman and Mike Sokoloft for heavy‑lifting and equipment support and thanked Ventura County Fire leadership for logistical help.

Supervisor Gorrell said the group’s work provided practical assistance to victims and helped preserve meaningful items otherwise likely lost. The board thanked the volunteers and presented a proclamation; supervisors invited the volunteer team to a recognition lunch at Ventura Fire Headquarters.

No policy action was taken; the presentation served as formal recognition of volunteer service.