It was supposed to be a summer camp like many others that take place every year at Camp Lolek in Wrightwood, California.
But in September 2024, the place was spared from a huge fire, in what organizers considered a miracle through the intercession of Our Lady of Champion.
The facilities of Camp Lolek date back to 1941, started by the Sisters of Social Service as Camp Mariastella, and were purchased a few years ago by Kenny Lund and a group of people who wanted to keep the place Catholic.
In September 2024, they were rebuilding and carrying out expansion renovations at the site, which houses the Saint Edward Retreat Center during the year and Camp Lolek from June to August for about 150 participants, when the region was hit by a wildfire. But despite its large scale, the flames did not reach the property and left the camp intact.
In an interview with ChurchPOP at the SEEK 2026 Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, Kenny Lund, one of the Camp and Retreat Center owners, explained that the Bridge Fire had been approaching the region with 60-mile-per-hour winds for weeks.
"It came in and threatened the entire town; they, in fact, evacuated all of Wrightwood, and it was coming down our Canyon. They were just about to abandon and give up the camp because we're just all in the woods," he shared.
That's when something incredible happened:
"Miraculously, the fire just stopped at our property line, and it burned all the way around on both sides of us. On the east, west, and the southern side was all on fire, but it didn't come in and touch the camp."
He says that even the firefighters were impressed and couldn't understand what had happened.
"The fire captain said they were just about to abandon, and the wind in our Canyon just stopped. It was like it just was turned off," Lund recalls.
That's when the fire captain understood the reason behind the seemingly inexplicable event:
"He talked to my daughter, who's our camp director, and asked if they could stay there just in case it flared up again; he said it was the strangest thing. He said the wind just stopped when it hit our property line, and she said, 'Well, we have hundreds of people praying, and praying for the intercession of Our Lady of Champion, who stopped the largest forest fire in the US.' And he said, 'Well, that's what did it because it doesn't make any sense how the wind just stopped and spared your place'."
With gratitude, Lund added,
"And we were open that summer, and we still host 65 retreats, and it is now that we really consider it sacred ground."
Named after Saint John Paul II's nickname, Camp Lolek takes inspiration from this great saint and his love for the outdoors, the youth, and the Virgin Mary.
Visit Camp Lolek's website for more information about how to register as a camper or counselor.
Our Lady of Champion
On December 28, Bishop David Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay formally advanced the sainthood cause of Servant of God Adele Brice, the humble woman who in 1859 witnessed the apparition of Our Lady of Champion, who's venerated for the extraordinary protection attributed to her intercession during the devastating Peshtigo Fire of 1871—the largest forest fire in U.S. history.
Through the new edict, the Church is now inviting the faithful to share their testimonies and the favors they have received through Adele Brice, to continue discerning how God continues to work through her witness.