Categories: 2016 Fire Season

Soberanes Fire, Day 4, 7/25/16 – Local Accounts

6 pm – that plume has moved considerably west in the last hour.

2:55 pm – this time, she blew, one of the largest plumes on this fire I have seen and it keeps growing.(there will be a photo later on a separate post)

12:30 big plume visible from down here. It is making a run someplace. One witness said this:

“Fire making a big run up behind El Sur Ranch, looks like it’s running up from north fork Little Sur, difficult to pinpoint exact location due to smoke haze. Many Dozers and fire personal between Little Sur bridge and Captain Cooper School.”

9:25 – need to slow down, I missed the second part of the donation flyer, so here it is:

9:08 Situational Map

Okay … Is that the golden stairs dozer line I see at the bottom of that map? I know the IC put in a request for overflow 50 dozers in his equipment request last night … Have no idea how many he will get. But I like this direction …

8:56 am –

7:52 – local resident reports Bixby finally getting some help.

And From Keith Vandervere:

7:29 – from a local resident, held in high esteem by most of us:

” When I returned from Pico Blanco area late last night very disturbed at the lack of personnel even patrolling the Old Coast Road for any spot fires. ”

7:08 am – updated IR flight sent by John Chesnut. Blue line is yesterday’s perimeter to show growth.

7:00 am – thermal image sent by Jim Barr who reports new detects NW & E of Bixby Mountain; W of Mt. Carmel; & W of Rancho San Carlos.

5:30 am – First off, some housekeeping matters. Today, I will begin three separate posts.  This one, to add for local reports from the fire lines; the second one will be for official notices; and lastly a photo one.- go to the right and under “pages” you will see Soberanes Photos. Mike Morales will be handling that page for me, but he goes out at dawn for his own photos (with or without fires) and then checks in with various commands, then comes back to process and upload his photos, so he will be in and out all day. I will forward photos I receive to him, but I’ve given him complete and utter editorial discretion on what to post. It has been a while since he has worked with WordPress, so today will be a “work-in-progress” for him. I am SO thankful for his help!!

On official notices, if it is an evacuation order, I may send it out separately to make sure everyone on the two social media I monitor and post to – Facebook and Twitter – will see it as it goes up simultaneously. I’m going to play that one by ear today. If I do, that means when you visit my blog, you may want to scroll through various posts to get all of today’s news and photos.

I get a lot of questions which I did my best to answer or explain why there was no answer, both publicly and privately, sometimes answering the same question numerous times in the comment section, over the past three days. With private questions, I will make no promises I will answer, but will try with all reasonable questions, if I can. Today, I am instituting a policy from my legal career – Asked and Answered. I will answer only once publicly. You are responsible for checking prior comments to see whether your question has already been addressed. Many of you have become absolutely wonderful about answering each other’s questions when you can. I so honor and appreciate that as it saves me time and energy. If it is a question that calls for a crystal ball, I will not even try explaining why I cannot answer. If you have a visit planned here and are asking a question about that, I have one word for you – don’t. Honor us and the land, and don’t be a looky-loo who is so busy taking a selfie that you don’t realize you are in the way. It is smoky and not a good time to visit.

I am in this for the long haul and need to conserve and take care of myself, as so very many of you remind me. Last night, I did not get my solid 6 hours, but only got 4, so later this am I will try to get another hour in, whenever the lull hits, and it usually does. If necessary, I will do that several times today.

Okay, boys and girls, keep an eye on each other and the words for today are compassion and empathy for all living critters.

bigsurkate

Appointed appellate counsel for indigent defendants (retired.) I have lived in Big Sur since 1984, first on the north coast, and on the South Coast since 1989.

View Comments

  • Check out my comment late last night, we are doing dawn to dark brush clearing and dozer work on Apple Pie and I don't have much time, but I do check in for the latest news thanks Kate

  • I will solidly second the advice/request to those who are planning a visit. I am a long distance lover of Big Sur. A number of years ago, a fire occurred during a visit. The smoke alone makes it a difficult place to be. When you add in all the activities of the firefighters who are trying to save this beautiful corner of the world, people's homes and lives, it is simply not the place to be. We quickly moved on to get out of the way. Trips can always be rescheduled.

  • Good for you, Kate! It's a marathon, not a sprint. Thank you so much for all you are doing. It's huge

  • I commend your efforts at self preservation while still committed to getting the job done. We cannot thank you enough for all that you do. You are the best!

  • Hi Kate, on your 7 am posted map today, there is an orange marker near the right edge of the map. Is that fire?

  • Glad you're getting the help you need, Kate. In the days before blogging and CBs were the mountain mode of communication, it took 2-3 of us at the school to keep the information going during the Plaskett Fires!!

  • You are an amazing asset to the community and our family and so many of our friends. I am so VERY grateful for your efforts. Seems you're one of the best resources out there!! Thank you for all you do and please take good care of yourself.

  • Not so much deja vu as I am to old for this S*** the first and worst was 1972 I was young and macho and was empowered by our success, now after 4 times I am so over all the responsibility for our safety. Now I know how dicey these fires are and despite our past record, fires are hell and the devil can claim his own at any time
    I PRAY that they send dozers up the golden stairs today as it gives us half a chance if the wind stays down, thanks again

  • Dana on her way to work reports 5 dozers loading / unloading? a t little Sur, heading to the golden stairs? Somebody let us know.

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bigsurkate

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