Month: September 2009

9/11

Few of us will ever forget this day, eight years ago. Many of us sat in stunned disbelief in front of our television set watching the events of this day unfold. Today, may we all remember our fallen, and pray for peace in our world — in our lifetime.

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On another note, as Barbara Ray posted in a comment on the “About” page: “Saturday is the Big Sur Health Center 30th Anniversary BBQ at the Grange from 12-4 P.M. Everyone is invited for free food, music, and celebration. It should be a great community event.”

Grand daughter’s photo

We’ve got a budding “eye” here — Madyson, my grand daughter. She will be 12 soon.
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On this day ten years ago

All day long I’ve sat at my desk, looking at a photo of lightning I took 10 years ago today.

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I sat outside, after dark with my old Nikon, taking photo after photo, not knowing what would come out, it was only ASA 400 (the forerunner of ISO). I have a tag on it explaining about the photo. All day, I’ve thought about commemorating the day, but with the Carmel Valley Fire, and work … Then Stan sent me the link below to some incredible photos he shot, and that did it. Work can wait for 10 minutes more.

It was a magnificent light show. Dry lightning. It spawned the Kirk-Hare Fire (later called the Kirk Complex) which burned over 80,000 acres and lasted 3 months. My photo was film and all that remains is the small 3×5 photo I have.

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However, if you’d like to see some outstanding shots by Stan Russell of the lightning that night, go to this link:
Stan Russell lightning shots

But for a real step back in time, visit Big Creek’s recount of the various fires complete with photos. This account appears to have been done by our own John Smiley, with help from stewart Feynner Arias. What a history lesson for those of us who only kept track of the basics. See the link below:

UCSC-Big Creek fire report

Carmel Valley Fire

Early this morning, a fire broke out at a home on Tassajara Rd. The home was destroyed, and another building was partially destroyed, along with 2 vehicles. The occupants were able to get out and are not injured. CalFire, Carmel Valley Fire and Cachagua Volunteer Fire Brigade worked to prevent it from spreading to the surrounding vegetation. At last report, 1/2 acre is involved, no other structures currently threatened.

Kelly O’Brien of KUSP and Jamesburg reports: “The fire started at about 4:00 am this morning. The local CERT and Community Task Force member Greg Schermann began calling neighbors at about 5:00 am to warn them about the danger of this structure fire turning into a wildland fire.

The fire spread rapidly, and by the time Cachagua Fire crews arrived on scene – minutes after the start of the blaze – the fire had engulfed the entire house, casting firebrands over a wide area and threatening the brush and wildlands adjacent to the property.”

Here is a photo to provide an idea of the location taken by Kelly O’Brien. You can see the smoke from the fire, and the hill up which it could have easily run directly behind it:
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Kelly tells us: “Cachagua, Carmel Valley and Cal Fire Crews responded.

The hill you see behind the property was threatened, but thanks to quick, very regimented and thoughtful action, the house, which was engulfed in flames, did not turn into a wildland fire. This intersection is the only way out of the area for Jamesburg residents ( the direction from which I’m shooting the pic ).”

Tassajara House

“Remains of the house… one outbuilding was a also destroyed. The family is OK and all of their animals survived. The fire was believed started by a bad electrical connection… many extension cords were used on the property, and it’s possible that the one used to power a chicken coop heater may have caused the blaze,” Kelly O’Brien writes.

Thanks, Kelly for the great reporting and photos. I should have to pay you a salary — that is if I made anything from my blog!! Thank goodness KUSP can pay you!

And lastly, a huge THANK YOU to the men and women of Cachagua VFB, Carmel Valley Fire and Cal Fire Crews.

A little side note — this is my 500th post since I started this silly blog on July 5, 2008. A milestone, of sorts. 500 posts in 14 months. Whew!

The Magic Webcam

Mike, of Firefighter’s blog originally captured this Mt. Wilson webcam shot, but I just couldn’t resist posting it here, it is pure magic! Look at that moonbeam on the right. And to think no photographer took this shot!
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Mt. Wilson webcam

This was taken via the webcam at 4:00 am today, Sunday. Yes, I was awake at 4 am, but I did manage to go back to sleep.
Mt. Wilson Webcam

And here it is around 10:30 am:
Web Cam, Mt. Wilson Sun. 10;30 am

Here is one from 2:30 pm. Note the USFS FF on the road.
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Here is tonight’s shot, taken a little before 11 pm. That’s the thing about fire, it is Janus – the two headed Roman God, looking both to the past and to the future. On the one hand, it is so very destructive. On the other, it can be quite beautiful.
Mt Wilson, Sun eve #2
Looks a little smaller than it did at 4 am.

And here is the link: Mt. Wilson webcam

Also, one of the scientists in charge of Mt. Wilson, arranged to fly out from Atlanta, GA a few days ago and is staying atop the Mt. He has been blogging about the experience here: Mt. Wilson blog

Random Photo of Big Sur #6

This one doesn’t require a guess as to where it is (I’ll post another one of those soon) as it is a lovely sign I am fond of … of a great place to eat. Of course, we have many great places to eat, all different.
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I had a lovely encounter with some people parked by my front gate last night. First, they did not have any fires, or camping gear. Second, it was a couple my age. Third, they were very apologetic about being trespassing (they were actually looking for a cell signal — passed a few, but what do they know about the San Ardo tower?) and lastly, left immediately, when requested to do so.

But today, hunter’s guns way too close!!

Moon over Big Sur

Ah, the most luscious large moon — the corn moon, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, and Native American Indian Lore.

But what I love about witnessing a beautiful full moon like this? Is knowing that all over the world, where the skies are clear, people of many different nationalities, cultures, and languages, are watching the same full moon with me — different times, yes — but the same full moon.
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If this doesn’t prove we are all connected, then nothing will. Enjoy this corn moon, where ever you are!
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Station Fire was arson

At 6 pm tonight, the LA Times is reporting that the Station Fire was caused by an act of arson. Ken left a comment in my last post alerting me to this report. Thanks, Ken. The LA Times reports:

September 3, 2009 | 5:53 pm

The Station fire has been classified as an arson fire, and authorities have launched a homicide investigation.

The massive blaze, which killed two firefighters, has been under investigation for days, with the focus being on a road turnout along Angeles Crest Highway north of La Cañada Flintridge.

“Forensic examination has led this team effort to conclude … that it was an act of arson,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Steve Whitmore.

The Station fire, which has burned about 144,000 acres of the Angeles National Forest, is the largest fire in L.A. County history. Two firefighters died Sunday during a rescue effort, when their vehicle plunged down a mountain.

On Wednesday, investigators hunched under a scorched, 20-foot-tall oak tree off Angeles Crest Highway, using wire mesh sifters to search through the ash in an attempt to determine whether the Station fire was deliberately set.

Near Mile Marker 29, authorities were treating the fire’s suspected ignition site as a crime scene. Yellow tape cordoned off the area and authorities blocked the highway, turning away even Caltrans workers and earthmovers. Members of the bomb squad also arrived at the scene but officials declined to say what their role was in the probe.

“We believe it is the point of origin,” Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Mike McCormick said Wednesday. “They are doing a finely detailed, serious, serious search and investigation. We lost two firefighters in this.”

I was hoping for an accidental start, not arson. It is such a difficult crime for me to understand, frankly, and I’ve dealt with them all in my career as a criminal defense attorney. Only once did I have to defend someone who purposefully started a fire, and in that case, my client set fire to a cat. Pretty horrific and difficult to understand then, too.