Gala, certainly describes last night’s event! Over 600 people in attendance, lots of art and fire photographs up for silent auction, and a chance to meet part-timers from our coast, people from the peninsula, and see some old faces — well, they are getting older, but I really meant familiar faces.

The evening started with cocktails and hors dourves upstairs, with a chance to mingle. Doris and I were speaking outside. We had been joined by a firefighter from CV. Doris points out some smoke from a fire, not too far away. After Doris leaves, the firefighter’s husband joins us. He is a fire marshall. The wife points out the smoke, and hubby replies, “Oh, that is fog.” He leaves to get his wife a drink, and the page comes in, they are sending 3 CV engines to the “fog.” I ask her if she is going to tell her husband he was wrong. “Oh, I’d never do that!” (Maybe that is why she is still married, and I’m divorced?) Anyway, when he returns with the drinks, she just shows him the call-out call on her cell phone. I watched the eyes of the man, as he was proved wrong. She just didn’t tell him.

We were seated for dinner at assigned tables. I did not know anyone, although one couple knew me. When they found out I was “bigsurkate” they both were very flowing with their compliments. They were away from the area when the fire struck, and so had only the internet. Along with that great site, xuanantoday, they relied on my blog. Nice to know I was helpful.

For me, the early entertainment was too loud for the conversations we were all trying to have in a large room with 600 people. Don’t get me wrong, the Afro-Latin fusion was great. The entry of the drums to start the program was quintessential Big Sur. No question. But it was too loud for too long. The hit of the evening was a multi-media presentation of interviews with Sula Nichols and others, Kodiak Greenwoods photography set to music — “I won’t back down” — brought tears to my eyes. The visual effect was exquisite.

Of course, our local fire brigade were all honored on stage, and received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Everything about the evening was really a class act, from the napkins (I fell in love with them) to the food and wine pairings, which was excellent.

I left just before dessert was served, shortly after 9 pm. Long drive home. It was a very successful fund-raiser and a wonderful tribute to our community — near and far.

I have begun to do some research into this very dangerous job people take on — what works, and what doesn’t. It started with Cal-Fire’s recommendation regarding the Thirtymile Fire in 2001 up in Washington State which took the lives of 4 firefighters. Here, we were very lucky. No one died. No serious injuries were reported. Despite the extreme nature of the fire, and the houses lost, we were lucky.

The USFS conducted a full investigation of the Thirtymile fire, and among those investigating were Jeanne Pincha-Tulley. The report issued was a mind-opener. When I googled the Thirtymile fire, one report that came up had material for inter-agency usage. That of course got me interested. I read all 50 plus pages, plus appendixes, of this report that explained what went wrong, causing the death of these firefighters. So many factors played a roll, but one thing is clear, these men and women do not get enough time to recover. They are on alert for hours, and days at a time, leading to poor choices. Exhaustion can be critical in the decision making process. Command confusion is clearly another, equipment inadequacies or unavailability are another, and of course, underestimating the enemy is always a factor. Also, I just found this on http://www.wildlandfire.com:

“I just read that Judge Van Sickle will sentence Ellreese Daniels on August 18, 2008.”

Ellreese Daniels was the IC, a squad boss, and the first one ever criminally prosecuted for the death of firefighters at a wildfire. If you would really like to understand some of the things these wildland firefighters face, read this report. It can be found here:

Click to access 30mile_report.pdf

Now, I’d like to find the report for the Esparanza fire of 2006 which caused the death of 5 firefighters and share it with you. These reports may open your eyes. In the Thirtymile fire, firefighters were not trying to save structures. They were simply trying to put out a wildfire.

It is easy to criticize the IC on the Basin Complex Fire, and I do think he made mistakes, and my discussions with Cal-Fire bear that out, but if you had lost your personnel, as Dietrich did in the Esparanza fire, would you have played it any differently? When you have thousands of tired men and women out in the field, fighting these fires up-close-and personal, would your decisions have placed lives at risk? Don’t get me wrong, there is still the issue of the mandatory evacuations, and the treatment of those who stayed behind to protect their properties; but these are separate issues.

We were lucky. No one died. Remember that. It is important.

Last night’s meeting was well worth the time. More people turned out than I had ever seen at one of our Big Sur Multi-Agency Advisory Council Meetings — a HUGE turn-out, in fact. SRO, with people lined up against all the walls and standing outside. I got to see north coast neighbors I had not seen since the fire began. Many hugs from many people. I am so very blessed to be a part of this extraordinary community that exhibits such compassion and heartfelt care for one another. Big Sur, as a community and as a voice, shined her brightest last night. I am honored to have been present.

The meeting was taped by a number of television stations and KUSP. You can see a photo of the crowd at life in the fire lane blog (on my blog roll) and download an audio of the meeting at: http://web.me.com/kellyeo/Life_in_the_Fire_Lane/Life_in_the_Fire_Lane_Downloads.html
Although there was some anger, the meeting was respectful, orderly, and enlightening. It was one of the best meetings I have attended in a long time. We shared stories of what happened in each of our respective corners of the world, some were absolutely amazing. I loved Frank Hathaway’s story about evacuating a SECOND time, only to later receive a phone call from Frank Pinney, our BSVFB Chief, telling him he was calling from Hathaway’s phone, inside Hathaway’s house, and that it was saved. Sula Nichols and Don Case were both there, both lost their houses, but neither spoke. Micah and Ross Curtis were both there from Apple Pie Ridge, and we got to hear their perspectives, particularly Micha’s, who was grandly applauded. Don McQueen also spoke about his experience, working with Blaze Engineering to build dozer lines, deal with the mandatory evacuation, and the sheriff’s response. Too many stories to repeat, but all well received, all applauded, and all heartfelt.

(Wile E. Coyote found on the side of Highway One on the way to meeting)

It would seem that the MCSO threatened many people with arrest for leaving their property during the emergency, while actually only arresting one, Ross Curtis. Others were handcuffed and then released. The one consistent theme, was, first, the FACT of the mandatory evacuation, which had never happened before, as far as anyone can remember, and second, the MCSO’s response to it. Neighbors weren’t allowed to help neighbor. That’s one of the best things about this community, neighbors DO help neighbors. This is not the big city, where one doesn’t know one’s neighbors. This is like most rural communities, where people still help one another. Telling us we could not, does not sit well.

Besides our Congressman, Sam Farr, our Supervisor, Dave Potter, and a representative from State Senator Laird’s Office, as well as various other County Officials, there was quite a presence by the Monterey Sheriff’s Office, but not the Sheriff, Kanalakis, himself. His presence is being “requested” by Dave and Sam for our next meeting on August 12th. Now, that ought to be interesting.

In the mean time, I hope to see some of you once again at the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Gala on August 9th at 6 pm, at the Monterey Conference Center to raise money for the fire brigades and the Big Sur Relief fund.

Kelly O’Brien’s firelane blog is changing direction, as are we all, from suppression to prevention. This is an important conversation in which we all need to be involved, in whatever way we can. Jack Ellwanger of Pelican Network is also becoming very involved with this process, as is Don McQueen, according to Jack.

One way I can assist, is to locate good, reputable information to assist in the fascillitation of this conversation. I continually add information to the CWPP page as I find it, or am provided with it. There is a lot of information out there to assist us, models, plans, etc. But there is also money available to assist in this process. We do not need to create this plan alone. We have a lot of available help. What we need now, IMHO, is the science specific to our particular location to support what will work for us. One thing this fire taught us, is that we on the South Coast, those on the North Coast, our neighbors in Cachuaga, Jamesburg, and Arroyo Seco on the east, are all connected by the vast LPNF and the Ventana Wilderness. It is “our” backyard — all of ours, and we need to do something to get it “cleaned-up” sort to speak. We all have talents and skills that we can add to this endeavor. We can’t all commit to a 2-3 year project, but we might be able to bring a single thread to this interwoven tapestry. With enough threads, the piece that results is strong, useful, and beautiful, as well.

Anyway, I urge you to check my CWPP often for information and ways to educate yourselves, so that we may offer our varied and fascinating views.