Month: June 2015

Report of Fire above HML, South side of Graves Canyon

7/1 6:30 am update – fire kept to 4/10ths of an acre per LPF. Good job, everyone! Big Sur thanks you!

7:30 Nepenthes weather cam available here: Weather cam

  
06/30/2015 18:16 LPF-1837

Stoneridge Wildfire 48603 Hwy 1 near the Henry Miller Library and Nepenthe . BC12LPF DIV1LPF E15PNF E17LPF E18LPF PAT18LPF Q . . . 36.224 x 121.753

7:00 Confirmed. BSVFB and Cal Fire on site. Another report says LPF is also on site. Reports are 2 acres.

Photo from Stone Ridge by Joyce Duffy.

  
6:30 pm Just came in 15 mins ago. Have not been able to confirm. RP says Cal Fire on scene. Note: this is not showing up on CHP or WildCAD. 

Also CHP reports brush fire on SB 41 and car fire in SLO. Bound to happen with these temps. 

  

Wildfire in Santa Barbara County – Mesa Fire

3:30 pm – 200 acres being reported from several sources. Local KSBY weatherman reporting winds of 20 mph in fire area.

  
3:00 pm – Firefighters in Santa Barbara County are battling a 50-acre vegetation fire off of Burton Mesa Boulevard near La Purisima Mission just north of Lompoc.

Fire officials say the fire is spreading toward Cebada Canyon. Evacuations are in progress for people there. The mission has also been evacuated. 

It was reported at 50 acres with the potential to get much larger. I am gathering additional information and will post as it becomes available.

  

  

Be ever Vigilant

And …

06/27/2015 10:42 LPF-1774

ILLEGAL CAMPFIRE Wildfire 2 MI EAST NACIMENTO RD . . . . . 35.991 x 121.494

Yet another abandoned campfire. PLEASE people! This is an example of why some of us lose our patience with some tourists.

06/26/2015 17:07 LPF-1762

New Wildfire PREWITT RDG & CG M . . . . . 35.971 x 121.451

Upcoming and July 4th weekend weather

  From my SLO Weatherperson, “Asthe ridge remains entrenched, subtropical moisture will be  transported northward over most of California on Sunday into  Tuesday with increasing mid to high-level clouds and a potential for rain showers and thunderstorms. It will feel muggy in the inland areas, however, increasing northwesterly winds on Sunday  afternoon into Tuesday will keep the beaches and coastal valleys cooler. 

 The ridge will move off to the northwest late next week for gradually cooler temperatures over the 4th of July weekend.   

The Magic of Big Sur Jade, a short story

Yesterday, Rock Knocker went to his dentist in Morro Bay and called me after to let me know how happy he was with the cost of his new teeth.

 Today, I went to Home Depot in Atascadero. My dog sitter was with me. I took a piece of red oak plank to be cut. The young man who cut it complimented the dog sitter on the jade he was wearing. (Brought back from NZ for dog sitting.) I complimented him on the jade he was wearing. “Big Sur Jade,” he said. 

“We are from Big Sur, just above Jade Cove.” I said.

He whips out his cell phone to show me a photo of a nice blue jade piece. “This guy at the dentist’s office where my girlfriend works gave everyone in the office a pocket piece of Big Sur Jade yesterday.” 

“Does your girlfriend workin Morro Bay?” 

“Yes, how did you know?” 

“That guy is my ex, and current, Rock Knocker.” 

“Wow. What is your name?” Introductions and smiles all around.

Ah, yes. The Magic of Big Sur Jade.

Big Sur Wilderness Celebration

  
NEWS RELEASELos Padres National Forest

For Immediate Release

Contact: Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759

Twitter: @LosPadresNF

Los Padres Forest Association to Host

Big Sur Wilderness Celebration

 GOLETA, CA, June 22, 2015….Los Padres National Forest officials today announced a Big Sur Wilderness Celebration will be held Saturday, June 27, from 10am to 4 pm at the Big Sur Visitor Center located along Highway 1 in Big Sur. The free event is hosted by Los Padres Forest Association (LPFA) and is open to the public. Activities will include live music, food, kid’s crafts, booths and local exhibits as well as a rock climbing wall. 

Throughout 2014, the Los Padres Forest Association joined with Los Padres National Forest and groups from across the country in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the landmark Wilderness Act of 1964.

 “We’re thrilled to kick off what we hope will be an annual celebration in Big Sur that is focused on the Wilderness Act,” said LPFA Director Bryan Conant. “Big Sur is a great example of the inter-connectivity between the lands, the creeks and the ocean, and how wilderness areas have a trickle-down effect that protects these valuable resources.”

Founded in 1979, the LPFA is the official non-profit 501(c)(3) of the Los Padres National Forest. The LPFA mission is to care for the Los Padres National Forest, ensuring it thrives and remains safe and open for the American public to use and enjoy. The LPFA shares the U.S. Forest Service motto of “Caring for the Land and Serving People.”

 For more information about the Big Sur Wilderness Celebration or how you can become involved with LPFA, visit their webpage at http://lpforest.org. For additional information about Los Padres National Forest and current conditions, visit the Forest webpage at http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf.

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Parkhill Fire, Day 2

7:00 am – Early morning reports put this fire at 1900 acres! correction, officially 1200 acres. Aircraft should start flying it within the hour. A photo by SLOStringer shows the ICP just after being covered with the orange stuff. Lost most of their paper maps. With no cell service out there, they have gone to satellite phones. Here is the morning briefing, photo by CalFire. I wonder if that is smoke or fog? Lots of fog on the coast, and temps MUCH cooler (only 70) with humidity up to almost 20%.

  

Parkhill Fire, SLO Co.

10:00 pm update:

I get a local SLO station (actually several) and they are giving breaking news update throughout the evening, and I expect a full-blown report on the 11 o’clock news. Last report was as below. 3 homes have burned, 300-400 evacuations in place, a large air resource request is in for tomorrow, beginning at 7 am. My girlfriends are coming in from other states for a reunion of Big Sur ladies tomorrow, so other than a quick check-in tomorrow am, I will be off duty until early evening, unless something actually breaks in Big Sur. For additional info on the Parkhill Fire, a great source is SLOStringer’s FB page. If you like him, you will get updates on FB.  He has some great photos and video. He’s the “bigsurkate” of SLO Co. 😉

7:30 pm – 

From wildlandfire:

“In-between 1,000-1,200 acres 0% containment, forward spread has slowed as weather changes. Evacs still in place. Has not crossed Park Hill. Hoping to get it tied in tonight.”

A report from someone in the area …

“Not sure what to say… this fire is serious. Approaching or over 1000 acres as of 6:00. I’m leaving the fire now and will post more information picture and videos soon. Mandatory evacuations are in place in the area and a lot of people are refusing tieing up precious resources. Help the FFs help you. Tons more equipment incoming. Should have more info up by 7:30PM then heading back out. Multiple structures have been lost, I watched 2 or 3 burn to the ground myself. Animals everywhere. Shelter at Margarita Elementary. Large animal rescue on scene.

I will not be replying to messages or comments for the next foreseeable future.”

7:30 pm, 1000 acres. Another photo from Twitter, this one taken in Oceano

  
photo taken from Twitter, taken in Templeton

  
7:00 pm – So far today, first a structure fire in Atascadero (California Manor), now controlled,  then a vegetation fire in Parkhill, east of Santa Margarita,  currently underway, and a structure fire in Paso Robles just broke out. Structure fully involved and quite a column being put up, visible from the airport. Keep an eye out.

The Parkhill fire is currently at 500 acres and 10% contained. It has 6 tankers and a heavy helio working it, as well as numerous ground crews. I’m just gathering all the details. It started this afternoon, but I was busy painting.

Oh, and as reported by the Herald, a car over the edge yesterday at Soberanes. 67 year-old woman was conscience when they got to her.