The following individuals narrated the story of Tree of Fire inspired by their heartfelt connection to Baba’s Tree at Meher Mount. They have given time, love and hard work for the tree’s recovery and continue to play a role in its care and its unfolding story.

 Meet the people who tell the story of Baba’s Tree.

Elizabeth Arnold Resident Caretaker 2002-2009

Elizabeth Arnold was a resident caretaker at Meher Mount from 2002 to 2009 before the 2017 Thomas Fire and high winds burned and toppled Baba’s Tree. She returned after the fire to stay at Meher Mount and help with fire recovery and caretaking.

“Baba’s Tree for me is significant personally because there is this sense of ancient wisdom that's just inherent in being under the tree. I have had experiences where I was connected to everything. And I've had experiences where my heart was healed in ways that are meaningful and that I carry throughout my life.”

Agnes Baron Co-founder and Lifetime Caretaker

Agnes Baron was a co-founder and lifetime caretaker of Meher Mount from its founding in 1946 until her passing in 1994. She told Avatar Meher Baba she would take care of Meher Mount for Him through hellfire and damnation. The video of her in the Tree of Fire film was made in 1970.

Agnes Baron (1907–1994) was instrumental in the founding of Meher Mount in 1946 and protected it through decades of hardship. She spent the last 48 years of her life as Meher Baba's trusted "watchdog" at Meher Mount. Living simply, she practiced karma yoga – selfless service without attachment to results – and supported herself through teaching and community work.

Her fiery spirit and dedication to service is embodied by her Sanskrit nickname "Agni" (fire). Agnes’ legacy is Meher Mount itself, a sanctuary preserved by her unwavering love and labor for Meher Baba.

Cassandra Bramucci Resident Caretaker 2018

Cassandra Bramucci was living in the Ojai area when the Thomas Fire struck Meher Mount in December 2017. On her first visit a few days after the fire, she collected ashes from the heart of Baba’s Tree to share as keepsakes with the community. She later served as a resident caretaker.

“When the fire occurred, I couldn’t stay away. I was very, very bereft. I was just heartbroken. I just felt really like a piece had been pulled out of my heart. And then I think about the harvesting of the wood and the planting of the grove, the feeling is indescribable. It’s a sense of how things persist, how things evolve. The fire was not the end of anything.”

Eric Carlson Resident Caretaker 2019-2022

Eric Carlson and his wife Ellen Kwiatkowski became resident caretakers in 2019 about a year-and-a-half after the Thomas Fire in December 2017. They visited Meher Mount for the first time when they came to interview for the caretaker position and to determine if they wanted to do the job. 

“My first impression when I encountered Baba's Tree was a very sacred feeling. The initial feeling was serenity and peacefulness. It is quietness that isn't physical. The quietness is something internal that falls over you. It's a feeling of safety. It feels to me like a fountain of spiritual energy. Just totally without any kind of judgment. It feels like a sanctuary.”  

Sam L. Ervin Board President

Sam L. Ervin has been a volunteer at Meher Mount since 1968, observing Baba’s Tree over the years. He has served as President of the Board of Directors since 2003. He and his wife Margaret Magnus were actively involved in Baba’s Tree care and the recovery from the 2017 Thomas Fire.

“After the Thomas Fire, we saw this outpouring of love for Baba’s Tree from around the world, from people in India, from people in Australia, from people in England, as well as all over the United States. We saw visitors break down and cry when they saw the state of the tree. And that just increased my feeling of specialness about Baba’s Tree. If I could say one thing to visitors about Baba’s Tree it is to find out what's there for you.”

Buzz Glasky Resident Caretaker 2013-2019

Buzz Glasky and his wife Ginger Glasky were resident caretakers at Meher Mount during the 2017 Thomas Fire. They had to flee from the fire and spent months living nearby in their Airstream trailer. In 2018, they moved to Meher Mount to care for the tree and the property.   

“As caretakers of Baba’s Tree, we took it is as a gift to be able to offer that service. And I don’t think we thought about it too much until it caught on fire. Then we said, ‘God, we’re going to be known as the caretakers that burned Baba’s Tree down.’ Thank God it’s still alive.”

Ginger Glasky Resident Caretaker 2013-2019

Ginger Glasky and her husband Buzz Glasky were resident caretakers at Meher Mount during the 2017 Thomas Fire. They had to flee from the fire and spent months living nearby in their Airstream trailer. In 2018, they returned to Meher Mount to care for the tree and the property.   

“One thing that we found being caretakers is that the guests would come, and they would say, ‘I don't know why I'm here. I don't know how I got here. I was just taking a leisurely ride. And your gates are open, so I'm coming in.’ So, we took them to Baba’s Tree. You don't know what impact being on Meher Mount or being under the tree will have for these people and future guests coming here.”

Billy Goodrum Resident Caretaker 1999-2002

Billy Goodrum and his wife Pamela Goodrum were resident caretakers from 1999 to 2002. When they moved to Meher Mount, they had a one-year-old daughter, Rose Goodrum, who visited Baba’s Tree every day with them. Billy and Pamela were married under Baba’s Tree in 1998.

 “Sometimes, most times, I would go to Baba’s Tree by myself. When I went inside the canopy, I would feel like it was much quieter than it had any right to be. Walking to Baba’s Tree, there might be a plane overhead, you might hear a car on Sulphur Mountain Road, or birds chirping and things like that. And then you walk in, and it feels much quieter. It's not walls. It's just leaves and branches. It shouldn't be that quiet. But there was a solemness when you were in there with that tree. I always felt there was almost a little magic quality to the tree.”

Pamela Goodrum Resident Caretaker 1999-2002

Pamela Goodrum and her husband Billy Goodrum were resident caretakers from 1999 to 2002. When they moved to Meher Mount, they had a one-year-old daughter, Rose Goodrum, who visited Baba’s Tree every day with them. Billy and Pamela were married under Baba’s Tree in 1998.

“Sitting under the tree was very grounding for me. So, when it came time to get married, it seemed like the place to get married was under Baba’s Tree. It seemed like the closest thing to church. It felt like we were being held and surrounded by something. Ideally, what you experience when you marry another person is that you feel you’re being held, surrounded, and carried by your community, by something bigger when you’re joining your lives together. I feel that Baba’s Tree really provided for that.” 

Harold Greene Furniture Maker & Musician

Harold Greene is an artisan and owner of Harold Greene Hand Made making one-of-a-kind furniture. He was referred to Meher Mount by his friend and client Ken Pellman. Harold guided the harvesting, milling and storing of the downed wood from Baba’s Tree after the 2017 Thomas Fire.  

“One thing that I would like viewers to take away from my experience and what we did there at Meher Mount is that we are surrounded by what I would call an urban canopy. Much of the wood that gets cut down or is felled is basically wasted. This wood can be used for something that can be functional, beautiful and can last a long time. 

“And it can also give people an appreciation of their environment. The things that are around them are precious. And when you have this awareness of what’s around you, you can preserve it and make it last either as a living thing or as a functional object.”

Bing Heckman Board Member 1989-2007 & Guest Caretaker

Bing Heckman has been a key volunteer at Meher Mount since the early 1980s. He is a founding board member of the non-profit organization, Meher Mount Corporation, that manages Meher Mount. He periodically acts as a guest caretaker.

 “The Thomas Fire is a reminder that everything is subject not only to change, but also to a pretty major shift. One carries on and otherwise does the best they can. We’re not in control of the cards we are dealt, only how to play them. You play the best you can and let go. As Meher Baba says, ‘Don’t worry, be happy. Do your best. Then don’t worry, be happy.’”

Ron Holsey Board Vice President & Guest Caretaker

Ron Holsey is a regular volunteer and periodic guest caretaker at Meher Mount. He serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors. Holsey was living in United Kingdom during the time of the fire, later returning to care for Baba’s Tree and help with fire recovery. 

“I always feel like a personal connection with Baba’s Tree. To me it was like this sentinel on the hill that’s like been overlooking this land, this mountain, for centuries. It was like this guardian of the whole place. For me, it felt like it was sort of keeping watch. Trees have stories, and they can’t speak for themselves. So, it's kind of up to us to tell their stories. I hope people have a chance to go visit and see this incredible tree.”

Ray Johnston Resident Caretaker

Ray Johnston was a caretaker with his wife Elizabeth Arnold from 2002-2010. After the 2017 Thomas Fire, Johnston returned to help with Baba’s Tree recovery, fire clean-up and general care of Meher Mount. In 2023, he was drawn once again to be the resident caretaker.  

“When I first came to Baba’s Tree, it became an opportunity to sit in silence. And I've always referred to the tree as a silent sentinel for change, because the tree has been a symbol for change in my life. And so, it's been an opportunity to sit in the presence of the tree that afforded me the opportunity to go deep, reevaluate my life, but also to stay in touch with nature in a very grounded manner.” 

Ellen Kwiatkowski Resident Caretaker 2019-2022

Ellen Kwiatkowski and her husband Eric Carlson became resident caretakers in 2019 about a year-and-a-half after the Thomas Fire in 2017. They visited Meher Mount for the first time when they came to interview for the caretaker position and to determine if they wanted to do the job. 

“The first time that I experienced Baba’s Tree, it felt similar to how it feels now. It feels like a tuning fork to me. And it felt like that the first time, where the stillness of this place and that's in this land kind of reverberates out and fills you with that silence and fills you with that stillness. And I felt love, a love that fills every part of your body with acceptance and peace and stillness.”

Margaret Magnus Communications Director

Margaret Magnus began volunteering in the late 1970s when Sam L. Ervin introduced her to Meher Mount and co-founder Agnes Baron. After retiring, she became more deeply involved as Communications Director in 2003. Magnus is the producer/director/writer of Tree of Fire. 

“A favorite part of Baba’s Tree is the thin shell of the tree trunk holding up this gigantic tree and its limbs. Every time I look at it, I cannot believe this is true. Sometimes, I go to the tree to marvel at the thin pieces of the hollowed-out tree trunk that are supporting all the new growth. I wonder what energy must be coming up through the roots and from around the surrounding trees to make Baba’s Tree look so strong from the outside and, then seem so weak when you get up close to the trunk.”

Juan Mendez Guest Caretaker

Juan Mendez and his wife Agnes Montano began volunteering at Meher Mount prompted by the aftermath of the 2017 Thomas Fire and for the need to care for the tree and Meher Mount. Since then, they have frequently served as guest caretakers and are regular volunteers. 

“In nature fires have to happen. They happen because they have a reason. If you look around, you see the volunteers coming to help to care for Baba’s Tree. You see them loving God through this tragedy. You see their love pouring into Meher Mount and the tree. People are coming closer. That's why we started going to Meher Mount more often. We wanted to be part of the group. We wanted to share the moment. We saw that opportunity and we took advantage of it. We are very happy that we did.”

Agnes Montano Board Secretary & Guest Caretaker

Agnes Montano and her husband Juan Mendez began volunteering at Meher Mount prompted by the aftermath of the 2017 Thomas Fire. Since then, they have frequently served as guest caretakers and regular volunteers. Agnes serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors.

 “After the Thomas Fire, when I saw the burned tree, it really affected me. I could not believe the condition it was in. It was very moving. And that's why I felt that I needed to do something and try to help in any way I could. And that's what I've been doing ever since.”

Ken Pellman Volunteer & Advisor

Ken Pellman was first person Sam Ervin and Margaret Magnus called after the 2017 Thomas Fire with the question, “What should we do with all the wood from the fallen tree?” He had previously owned a lumberyard, loved wood and was very knowledgeable.

 “It was our responsibility as a community of the world to take this blessed tree that had fallen and do something. It wasn't destruction at all. It was an opportunity for all of us to perhaps share in the magic and that spiritual essence that was imbued in the wood.”

Kristina Somma Guest Caretaker

Kristina Somma and her husband Robert Turnage serve as regular guest caretakers. They were at Meher Mount in the months after the 2017 Thomas Fire caring for Baba’s Tree, planting Baba’s Tree Grove, and helping with the overall fire recovery.

“I found it very interesting while we were caretaking after the fire how many local people came up to see how Baba’s Tree was doing. Even though they weren't really followers of Meher Baba or knew that much about Him, they knew about the tree. And they all wanted to see whether or not the tree was all right, what did it look like now, what had happened to it. And I began to think that the community had benefited from the fire. It had become even closer and came together more often with purposefulness.”

Robert Turnage Board Treasurer & Guest Caretaker

Robert Turnage and his wife Kristina Somma serve as regular guest caretakers. They were at Meher Mount in the months after the 2017 Thomas Fire caring for Baba’s Tree, planting Baba’s Tree Grove, and helping with fire recovery. Robert serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors.

“The one thing that I would like people to take away from this film about Baba’s Tree is that on a glorious summer day in 1956, the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba, came to this mountaintop in Southern California. He spent a day there. Blessed the space under Baba’s Tree, blessed the whole mountain, and invited His followers to love God through nature.”

Perry Van Houten Senior Reporter, Ojai Valley News

Perry Van Houten, a senior reporter for the Ojai Valley News, first came to Meher Mount in 2014 an article he was writing on iconic Ojai trees for the Ojai Valley Visitor’s Guide. Since then, he has written articles and aired radio broadcasts about Baba’s Tree and the Thomas Fire. 

 “Over the years, I would bring my kids to Meher Mount and sit on the brow of the mountain, look out over the ocean, and just feel the peace that Baba’s Tree provided. When the tree burned, it was especially sad because it is something I had experienced with my kids. I think we were all saying silent prayers for Baba’s Tree. And I like to think that helped. Baba’s Tree is a survivor. And we’re all the better for it.”

Darrel Wilson Woodworking Artisan

Darrel Wilson, a woodworking artisan, retired from the corporate world, now spends his time teaching and making beautiful items. He was contacted by board member Agnes Montano to ask about his interest in creating items from the salvaged wood of Baba’s Tree. 

“Baba’s Tree is still living on in new and different creative ways where you're exploring how this tree actually works with people in the community and what they make with it, and what they do with it. It's a great story. And so, I wanted to be part of that. I'm really exploring and discovering art and beauty in a way that I had never anticipated was possible.”