In 1962 they bought another mountainside property, this time on Bella Vista in Montecito.  There was enough land here to sell off extra lots later for a profit, as they did back in Illinois, to subsidize their income and make ends meet.  The home they would build would be a smaller version of the one on Mountain Drive and would also have the wide views, though not as spectacular.  The house was finished by December 1963, when they moved in.  They were getting ready for a peaceful retirement, with lots of time to spend working in the garden (something that John and Ruth had always enjoyed immensely), going to their clubs, to the theater or just visiting with friends.  But things were not to be peaceful quite yet. 

          On September 23, 1964, not-uncommon wildfires were burning outside of Santa Barbara due to a lot of recent dry weather and natural fuel available.  Santa Barbara did not seem much threatened in the morning of that day, as the Van Bergens went down to the city for some shopping and errands.  While they were in town, the fires changed direction quickly due to the wind and moved swiftly into Santa Barbara and Montecito.  As flaming debris swept down between the hills toward their neighborhood, the Van Bergens were far from home and unable return in time to protect their home or remove any possessions.  Some good neighbors, a young couple, seeing the approaching flames, did go into the Van Bergen's house and grab a few clothes, but had no time for anything more. 
          As they fled, the couple and a few other neighbors watched as the house was engulfed by the flames of a burning fireball of debris that rolled down the hillside.  Within 15 minutes the house was completely destroyed along with all of its contents.  Besides all the artwork, rare books, pottery, and other valuables that were destroyed, all the records, drawings, diaries and documents of John Van Bergen's entire career went up in smoke.  Included in the treasures were many of the drawings he had worked on while in Frank Lloyd Wright's studio as well as one of Wright's original "Wasmuth" portfolios. 
          Though devastated by the fire, and inadequately covered by insurance, the Van Bergens knew that they would rebuild.  After a trip to Mexico, and a visit to the Mayan ruins that they had wanted to see for years, the Van Bergens returned in April, 1965 to face the challenge of rebuilding.  In September, 1965, a year after the fire, they moved back in.