Month: December 2013

NO BURNING IN BIG SUR

Dear Big Sur Community,

Even though Burn Season has officially begun, due to the lack of rain no burning will be allowed in the Big Sur area of burn zone 32 until we receive more rain. The Big Sur area is from the SLO county line to Hurricane Point. You may hear the message on the 800 number say it is a burn day, but you need to check the Fire Brigade number prior to burning.

If you got a burn permit last year it will be good for one more year. Please remember to call the Fire Brigade number at 667-2113 if you plan on burning, (on a permissive burn day).

Thank you,
Martha Karstens
Chief, Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade

LPNF Fire Restrictions lowered

NEWS RELEASE

Los Padres National Forest
For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759
Twitter: @LosPadresNF
Website:www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf

Fire Restrictions Lowered on Los Padres National Forest

GOLETA, Calif., December 11, 2013 — Recent rainfall across Los Padres National Forest has led to rising fuel moisture levels, prompting officials to reduce fire restrictions on the forest effective immediately.

Under the reduced fire restrictions, campfires and charcoal barbeques will be allowed in all areas of Los Padres National Forest. A California Campfire Permit, available free of charge on the Forest Internet site, is required to build a campfire outside of a designated Campfire Use Site. A list of Campfire Use Sites and information about how to acquire a campfire permit is available at all Los Padres National Forest offices.

Visitors who construct wood or charcoal fires outside of designated Campfire Use Sites also must clear all flammable material for a minimum of ten feet in all directions; have a shovel available for preparing and extinguishing the fire; have a responsible person in attendance at all times; and extinguish the fire with water, using the “drown, stir and feel” method.

Prohibitions on smoking and target shooting in Los Padres National Forest are also being lifted.

“As we move into the rainy season and reduce fire restrictions, it’s important to remember that fire can happen at any time of the year,” said Los Padres National Forest Supervisor Peggy Hernandez. “I strongly encourage all visitors to exercise caution while they are enjoying the forest.”

The following fire restrictions will remain in effect:

· Spark arresters are required on all off-highway vehicles, chainsaws, and other internal combustion engines and equipment;
· A permit is required for all welding, grinding, cutting, or use of explosives;
· Tracer ammunition is prohibited at all times;
· Fireworks are prohibited in Los Padres National Forest at all times and in all places.

Visitors are encouraged to call the local Ranger Station for more information on conditions and restrictions.

Airlift Patient

A short update: I picked up my friend from Natividad on Tuesday evening and he is staying with me for a while. He is weak, but his memory is coming back and his confusion is almost gone. He is progressing greatly, being home, back on the South Coast of Big Sur.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. We dodged this one!

Flowers by Kate – the other Big Sur Kate

Wednesday, I got a lovely and sweet surprise. Ken, the Cal Trans engineer in charge of the Rocky Creek project, sent me a lovely bouquet of flowers. He didn’t use a flower shop in town, he used Big Sur’s own flower lady, Kate Healy. Isn’t this a great community?

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Speaking of freezing temps

Okay, I think I’m finished complaining about the cold.

This article by BBC News (which I often prefer to our own):

“The coldest place on Earth has been measured by satellite to be a bitter minus 93.2 Celsius (-135.8F). As one might expect, it is in the heart of Antarctica, and was recorded on 10 August, 2010.

The previous record low of minus 89.2C was also measured in Antarctica. This occurred at the Russian Vostok base on 21 July, 1983.

‘These very low temperatures are hard to imagine, I know,” said Ted Scambos from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado. ‘The way I like to put it is that it’s almost as cold below freezing as boiling water is above freezing. The new low is a good 50 degrees colder than temperatures in Alaska or Siberia, and about 30 degrees colder than the summit of Greenland.
‘It makes the cold snap being experienced in some places in North America right now seem very tame by comparison,” he told BBC News.”

More freezing temps

Overview (from NOAA)

Another round of cold temperatures are expected for Monday Night into Tuesday Morning. Lows will drop to the upper teen to 20s for inland locations with most coastal areas in the upper 20s to mid 30s.
TIMING
10 PM tonight until 9 AM Tuesday Morning.
LOCATIONS
All locations except for the city of San Francisco.
IMPACTS

*Hazards:
Freeze warning in effect.
*Impact 1 (most significant) :
High confidence for another round of cold temperatures.
Increased risk for hypothermia due to freezing temperatures for those living outdoors, including animals.
Sensitive plants can be damaged or killed if left unprotected
*Impact 2 (if necessary):
Freezing conditions will lead to areas of slick roads.

How cold is it?

Noon update – yay! Finally got water and having my first cup of coffee, as well as a hot bath! Tonight, before I go to bed, I will fill up the tub with water, fill the dog bowl inside, fill the tea pot with water for coffee, and let a faucet drip all night long. How many gallons of precious water will that take?

It has regularly been down in the mid-twentys at night, and last night, with the wind chill factor, it was 12! The dog water dish is frozen solid – 3-4″ worth! My pipes are frozen, so no water for the dogs or for my coffee this am. I am hoping they did not burst – I have all copper – and will thaw out this am to bring me water again. It was 49 degrees inside, when I built the fire on top of last night’s coals. I hope you all are staying warmer than I am!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

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Built entirely by the owner of Lugano’s Swiss Bistro in the Barnyard. It is almost entirely edible – not the speeding train, of course.

Santa Lucia Weather Report

It was 10:30 at night. I turned off the TV in preparation for bed, and heard some unusual sounds. I looked at the windows – nothing. I got up and l looked out the front door – rain. I checked my weather station – 38 degrees with wind chill down to 33. Inside, I let the fire die down, as it was over 80.

All together, I got .44″ of the life-source, but no snow. Winds got up to 42 mph. At 9:30 am, it is 33 outside, wind chill bringing it down to 27. Blue skies peek through the clouds. The road is muddy and slick, and trees are probably down due to the winds. I have our yearly ladies holiday luncheon, but with road conditions, doesn’t look like I’ll risk it.