A thin curl of smoke drifted into the sky near Westmont on a hot afternoon in September, 1964. Students could see the fire across the canyon on Coyote Road as they walked to class. At first the danger seemed slight. But strong winds pushed the blaze closer to campus. By late afternoon, flames tore down the hill next to Page Hall as students and faculty watched anxiously from the parking lot. For two sleepless nights the Coyote Fire ravaged the foothills, threatening the College and the entire Santa Barbara community. A thin curl of smoke drifted into the sky near Westmont on a hot afternoon in September, 1964. Students could see the fire across...