Month: August 2010

Pozo Fire, SLO

8:30 pm – UPDATE: I have no update on the acreage. Went back on the ridge to see if I could see a plume, and could not. Could see smoke in the general area. Did get a nice sunset shot, though, in which you can see some smoke, but it is hard to discern.

Sunset on Pozo, Day 1

6:30 pm – UPDATE: current reports are that this fire is up to 2500 acres and large order for resources being placed and filled. 0 % containment. Campgrounds evacuated are Turkey Flat, LaPanza, and Pozo are all evacuated….6 tankers and 6 copters and a dozen plus engines with strike teams starting to show up.

This is the “head” or column of smoke visible from Paso Robles around 3:30 pm.

Pozo Fire by Ray Martorano

This was sent to me by my friend, Ray, and is used with his permission.

5:00 pm UPDATE: Resource order: Major resource order shown is ROSS: Pending:12 type 1 HC, 5 type 1HC S/T, 5 Type 3 eng S/T, 10 Doz S/T, 8 Water Tenders. some misc OH.

4:30 pm – all fire suppression units have been extended until 8 pm.

4:15 pm UPDATE: CALFIRE reports: “Pozo Fire [Update] located off Pozo Rd between Pozo and Santa Margarita (San Luis Obispo County) is now 1,500 acres.”

4 pm UPDATE: Fire is 1200 acres. Oh sh*t, here we go.

3 pm UPDATE: Latest report on conditions, 350 acres, still rapid rate of spread. Heading into the LPF, no structure threat. Also, no estimate of containment.

There is a fierce fire being fought down in SD Co. near Cajon Mtn. It started about the same time, but is up to 2K plus and has really taken off. 10 hikers had to be rescued by helicopter due to being surrounded by fire.

2 pm UPDATE: (sorry, had company stop by, so I’m late with this.) Reported:”AA just ordered two additional AT’s for a total of six.

AA report on conditions: 250 acres, multiple spotting, in grass, transitioning to the brush.”

KSBY out of SLO is reporting it is up to 300 acres.

1:30 pm, scanner just indicated IC requesting an additional three type 3 engines in addition to the previous 3 additional type 3’s. Spotting still going on – listed as rapid spotting!

From WildCAD-LPF:
Pozo Wildfire Pozo Road & Parkhill Grass fire, assist to SLU. 35 Acres, Rapid Spotting. H527,H528,H530,Crw4,E31,35,47,Doz4,BC32. In addition to the above by LPF, CAL-FIRE is sending full wildland fire response as well.

At 1 pm, WLF reported: “a fire on Parkhill Rd in the Pozo area in San Luis Obispo County. Per AA, ordering an additional two AT’s and two additional helos. SLU dispatch just dispatched another dozer as well.” WildCAD, LPF is indicating 2 LPF engines dispatched to assist.

Currently, at 1:00 pm “25 to 30 acres with spotting full Cal Fire and LPF response can see header from paso.”

Big Sur Jade

In anticipation of the Fall photo contest – the theme is Jade – and the 19th Annual Big Sur Jade Festival coming on October 8th, 9th, and 10th, I offer the following:

Necklace by Big Sur Jade Co.- Champagne & Glass provided by Rose Welch

And here is another idea for Jade photos:
Jade!!

So, starting September 1st, I will be accepting photos for the Fall Contest, and the theme is Jade – anything and everything Jade – raw, polished, sculptured, found, jewelry – will even consider Jade Festival photos! Contest winners will again be chosen by the readers and the contest will close on September 14th at midnight, PDT, to allow a full week to vote for the photo that will grace the header spot for the Fall, which will go up on or about September 21st.

Summer in Big Sur

A reader of my blog, and visitor to Big Sur, came down here via Amtrack and the local 22 bus late last week. (YAY! One less vehicle on the highway). While here, he took some incredible shots he sent to me. I am posting three of them, although the others were superb, as well. Most of you who live here, and many of you who visit, will recognize where these were taken. Thanks, Tom!

Big Sur visitors, by Tom Haley

Doesn’t this just say, “Summer in Big Sur” to you?
Horse, by Tom Haley

I just love, love, love this photograph! Yes, it could have been taken anywhere, but it was taken here.
Big Sur shed by Tom Haley

This photograph is a study in composition. What a wonderful way to depict this place.

Thank you, Tom, for sharing your work with all of us! The last of summer is fast approaching. Come, share Big Sur with us!

More Condors – Reader’s Photos & Story

In response to my Condor post yesterday, Anne Ashley, of Pfeiffer Ridge sent me some photos and the story of a time in 2008 [ed. note – actually 2000-2001] when the condors came to hang out at her place. Here they are:

5 condors by Anne Ashley

Condors on the roof and window by Anne Ashley

No. 64 by Anne Ashley

And this is what Anne had to say about the experience:

Highlights…..
It was really wonderful sitting in a window under them, not 5 ‘ away…
They “walked” on our glass roof over the bed and drove our cats CRAZY! (Cats did not come out from under bed for days!
2 condors pulling a king sized blanket and ottoman cushion (about 3’x2’x6″) out our back door raised a racket. My husband John heard them and chased them off
Our guest house (having some work done) was left open and they tore up insulation, ate large bags of chips, etc etc etc
Ventana Wilderness Society marveling and telling us to spray their bellies with water when they lit on the house as they want them to stay wild/not get too used to people (they say it doesn’t hurt them but they hate it!)
About a year later after more condors had been released we had about 10 of them circling above like a dark cloud for maybe 10 minutes…… John figures it was the elders telling the young’uns “Don’t ever go down there. those people are NUTS!”

And while I am here, Anne has a question and hopes someone can direct her to the appropriate response. She has already contacted the MCSPCA. “We have a bobcat event We have seen him/her 3 times in past 2 weeks (big sur).

Twice he came up to back dolor…. put nose to door (around dawn) and seemed to be looking for breakfast (our cats!).

This morning he got up on our (1 story roof) and terrified everyone by approaching large second story windows (clearly trying to find a way in) …….. then went downstairs to the front of the house, climbed stairs (12 ft rise worth) and ambled/stalked along front deck (25-30’ of glass doors) peering in, sort of pushing on door with his head and terrorizing us/cats

He is a beauty but beyond brazen and we’re not sure if he might be ill, who we should tell…. etc. what do you advise.

We’re on Pfeiffer ridge in big sur…….. no other houses in shouting distance.”

Smoke on Horizon

UPDATE: This is what a weather guy said in response to my question: “Well, there is always a possibility of a training burn. However, we are getting the same thing in Sonoma County, the persistent marine layer and gusty onshore afternoon winds are just recirculating all the particulates trapped below the heat inversion above 2000 feet. It looks like a fire is burning somewhere, but really not. Get to a high altitude and you will see what I mean. We need a good wind event to scour out the atmosphere.”

It is simply a curiosity, NOT a danger, at this point. I haven’t been able to ascertain where and why, but there is definitely smoke drift on the horizon tonight, and it is not a slight amount, either. Smoke drift can travel long distances, as we all know, and I can see forever. Take a look. Anyone have any information on this?

Smokey Horizon

There is also some smoke settling in the Willow Creek area, but nothing is being reported on WildCAD-LPF, so perhaps it is some distance away. Still, it is strange to see this much drift and not find a mention of it anywhere. Strange, that is all.

This speculation is offered on one of the sites where I posed my question about this: “Kate–glad you mentioned this… while driving down to Sac today from the foothills, it looked like smoke over the Coast Range to the west. Since there is no fire activity to speak of in the LNU or MNF, I am going to wonder out loud…Is there ANY possibility of this smoke coming across the Pacific from the fires in Russia? Any of our weather geeks want to tell me why I am full of you know what?”

Condors

While my shots aren’t even close to the quality of Dan Danbom’s shots, posted earlier this year, I am still always tickled when I get to see them and photograph them. Even us amateurs like to get these shots!

Condor, photo #1

Condor, photo #2

Condor, photo #3

Condor, photo #4

Illegal Campfires

It has been confirmed by the USFS that all three incidents yesterday, Saturday, were illegal campfires. Remember, NO CAMPFIRES in the Los Padres National Forests from now until further notice – probably after the first rains. We locals ARE vigilant, and will call them in. Building one is a federal misdemeanor, carrying a potential jail sentence AND up to $5,000 in fines.

Wildfire on N-F Rd then Prewitt?

And, tonight, this:

08/14/2010 17:12 LPF-2508 (New) Wildfire Prewitt Ridge

I just looked across at Prewitt, and I don’t see any smoke. I am guessing this was a illegal campfire. I will definitely be watching closely for the next hour.

From earlier today:

Whatever this was, nothing ever came from it.

From LPNF WildCAD link:

08/14/2010 12:16 LPF-2498 (New) Wildfire Nacimento Road 1mi west or Ponderosa CG

LPNF WildCAD is reporting this: 08/14/2010 11:36 LPF-2494 (New) Wildfire Nacimiento Road 3 mi inside the boundry

I do not know if these are related, if it is one and the same with a more accurate location, or ???

I have not found any additional details, I do not see any column or smoke drift, so I am NOT concerned.