From CHP RE Nacimiento:
Incident: 00100 Type: Mud/Dirt/Rock Location: Nacimiento Fergusson Rd / Central Coast Ridge Rd Loc Desc: Cone Peak Rd Lat/Lon: 36.009867 -121.452317
Detail Information
10:30 AM 3 [5] 1039 LOS PADRES FOREST SRVC, THEY HAVE NO ONE TO VERIFY THE SLIDE
10:23 AM 2 [3] LANDSLIDE AND TREE DOWN 1125 WB LN
10:23 AM 1 [2] NACIMIENTO FERGUSON X CONE PEAK, APPRX 1 MILE FRM LOS PADRES STN

Re Highway One at Partington Cove:

One lane controlled traffic is open, and the entire road should be open by noon. Here are a couple of photos from Cal-Trans:

With yesterday’s slide demonstrating the instability of the land the highway is built on, over, and under, this next prediction – over 5″ in Big Sur – could result in more road problems. Be prepared, be aware, and be careful.

Forty years of Fire Service

South Coast Community Meeting
Regarding Big Sur Fire Brigade Incident Response

Wednesday January 20th, 2016
5 to 6 pm
At the Community Center at Pacific Valley School

Topics:
• Strategies for emergency response with limited resources this winter
• Recruitment discussion for additional Fire Brigade personnel on the South Coast

We’d like to see as many residents as possible at the meeting as well as representatives from: Big Sur Unified School District, Caltrans, USFS station 17, Gorda, Treebones and Lucia Lodge.

Thank you in advance, Chief Martha Karstens

Fire Restrictions Lowered on Los Padres National Forest

GOLETA, Calif., January 11, 2016 — 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 website, 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 on the Los Padres National Forest website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf and at all 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.

Under these lower fire restrictions, the Forest will begin disposing of accumulated fuels by burning brush piles at administrative sites within national forest lands. These sites include: developed and undeveloped campgrounds, ranger stations, fire stations, guard stations, lookouts, electronic sites, special permit sites, and miscellaneous piles along Forest Service administrative roads. These projects will occur when weather conditions and air quality are favorable to safely reduce these fuels.

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.

Santa Barbara Ranger District – (805) 967-3481 Ojai Ranger District – (805) 646-4348
Mt. Pinos Ranger District – (661) 245-3731 Santa Lucia Ranger District – (805) 925-9538
Monterey Ranger District – (831) 385-5434

First Foto Friday of the year, and seems odd to be typing 2016 – or in this case – 16. First, from Mike Morales.

This next one is by Dan Danbom.

Both of these were taken last week, and they both show the spiritual side of Big Sur, which is a huge part of who she is.

 

 

Highway One report from my son on trip down Plaskett to Hermitage: 3:00 pm – Yup, sloshy and a [tourist] with flat tire near Kirk creek and two cal Trans trucks moving rocks mail man said rocks everywhere but able to get through no problem he said cal Trans trucks every couple miles.

From the City of Morro Bay…

This morning a water spout tore through the Morro Bay Yacht Club tossing sailboats around the yard and knocking over a light post. Doing damage on both sides of the Embarcadero.

Mid-Coast Fire Brigade:

Weather Related Activities
Fire Chief Cheryl Goetz from Mid-Coast Fire Brigade
This morning a decent slide occurred on upper Rocky Creek Road by the Hoist. We have been working diligently with Monterey County Roads and Cal Trans to stockpile sand for sandbagging in a few areas other than just the one on Palo Colorado. We are awaiting approval from Cal Trans to place sand on Hwy 1 just North of Rocky Point Restaurant.
Trees have also begun falling and we expect more to come down as the ground saturation continues with rain anticipated to last through next week. Drive carefully, especially in the dark as trees could potentially be entangled in live power lines.
Remember this is just the beginning of our rainy season and already we are seeing problems with the road, culverts, etc. Please prepare ahead of time by filling and placing sandbags for potential problems. Once the problem occurs it may be to late. If you have never filled or placed sandbags there is an art to doing it correctly for maximum effect. Here is just one of many You Tube videos on how to properly fill sandbags if you are interested. https://youtu.be/5fa8ApB_TFc
Stay safe, drive carefully and stay warm and dry. This is shaping up to be another El Nino, El Nino, El Nino for those that were here during 1998 they can attest that it was something to behold.
Cheryl Goetz,
Fire Chief

 

11:15 am – thunder and lightning just started here. The first round completely skipped the south coast, affecting both Big Sur Valley and Cambria, but not us.

In other news, Paso is not having a good day. One mobile home was blown upside down by high winds (tornado?) and another was hit by lightning, catching it on fire. Be safe and aware out there!

7:00 am – the storm woke me around 4:45 … Downpours, wind, and while I didn’t hear thunder or see lightning, others reported it. Fortunately, it has quieted down now. The rain total here, so far today, is .82″, 3.33″ for the month, and 16.99″ for the year.

This is yesterday, from Greg DeAlba, CT Supervisor at Willow Creek (looks to be near Alder, but can’t be certain). Annette Knight is running the loader. Go team!

“Today’s low pressure system will produce thunderstorms with
periods of moderate to heavy rain, gusty winds and possible
hail through tonight.

Snow levels with this storm system will range between 3,000
and 4,000 foot range North to South with another foot of new
snow for the high Sierra by Thursday morning. Total rainfall
with today’s system are expected to range between 1 and 2
inches.

Another low pressure will produce rain and fresh to strong
(25 to 31 mph) southwesterly winds on Thursday. Total rainfall
amounts with Thursday’s system should range between 0.50 and
0.75 of an inch.

Scattered rain showers are forecast on Friday into Saturday.

Clearing will develop Sunday into Monday as high pressure
briefly builds over California. Wet and unsettled weather is
forecast throughout the following week as the long awaited El
Nino type of storm pattern persist.” SLO Meterologist, John Lindsey.

Missed us here on the South Coast!