vol. 22, no. 097, Nov. 21-29, 2007

The image of a firefighter battling the Zaca blaze, the largest forest fire in Santa Barbara County history, exemplifies what it means to be a hero. Our community is filled with heroes who do the extraordinary all the time, and The Independent celebrates their actions in its annual Local Heroes issue. (This year, it starts here.) Cover photo by Gene Blevins/Los Angeles Daily News/Corbis.