Author: 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.

Fire at the Lodge in Pebble Beach

Structure Fire, Pebble Beach CSD (Monterey County)
Pebble Beach, CA – At 11:56 a.m. on Tuesday, October 3, 2017, Pebble Beach Community Services District(CSD)/CAL FIRE was dispatched to a structure fire at The Lodge at Pebble Beach, 1500 Cypress Drive, in Pebble Beach (Monterey County). Personnel responding to the reported fire included (4) Battalion Chiefs, (6) Engines, (1) Truck, (1) Medic Squad, and (1) Fire Investigator for approximately (37) Firefighters at scene.

Upon arrival, fire crews found a large commercial building, approximately 20,000 square feet in size. From the outside of the structure, crews could see smoke coming from the second floor of the building. Upon entry into the garage, crews found heavy smoke conditions. During a primary search, crews found the fire was in the chimney ducting, resulting in charring in the duct space from the basement to the roof. Firefighters were able to minimize the spread of the fire with an aggressive initial attack, knocking down the fire and containing it to the ducting. The fire occurred at 11:56 am. There were no injuries as a result of the fire. CAL FIRE estimates the fire caused $150,000 dollars in damages.

Who: Pebble Beach CSD/CAL FIRE
What: Structure Fire
When: October 3, 2017, 11:56 a.m.; contained at 12:03 p.m.; controlled at 12:19 p.m. Where: The Lodge at Pebble Beach, 1500 Cypress Drive, Pebble Beach (Monterey County)

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Unofficial Bridge Opening Date

Susana did not issue an update yesterday, and when I asked her about it, she said she had it ready, but headquarters pulled it. Today she is out in the field, and will issue the update upon her return or tomorrow, depending, so I expect that to be the “official” opening date announcement, but staff at an establishment on the South Side are dancing with joy, looking forward to Friday the 13th. I’ll bet they are right!!!

Accident on Nacimiento, 10/2/17

Rock Knocker came upon an accident about a mile (?) east of Nacimiento Campground this afternoon around 3 pm. A 10 yard going east cut the corner badly on a blind curve. Guess what he saw as he came around it? A little car, which he proceeded to hit full on. Don’t know re injuries, but the rig was so far over, everyone was able to get by on his right hand side. Only 10 ft of brake skids by the truck visible.

And THAT is why it is no necessary to drive slowly and carefully and completely over in your own lane. Even that may not have prevented this one.

From CHP tonight:

5:55 PM 11 [26] 27-N37 N37 WILL BE 1023 FOR BIG RIG 1185
5:40 PM 10 [23] ALWAYS TOW ADV THE ROT FB REQ IS BEING TAKEN AS 3A
3:41 PM 9 [21] [Notification] [CHP]-1039 ALWAYS TOW HD NOW ENRT
3:40 PM 8 [19] 1185 HD WILL BE OWNERS REQUEST
3:39 PM 7 [18] LOS PADRES REQ 1185 HD FOR 70000 LB DUMP TK EMPTY OF FUEL OWNERS REQ FOR ALWAYS TOW TO SALINAS
3:33 PM 6 [17] 1185 COPIED DIRECTIONS
3:32 PM 5 [15] [Rotation Request Comment] 1039 ALWAYS TOW 831-424-8698 W/ FB
3:28 PM 4 [14] [Notification] [CHP]-CHP 1097 10 MINS AGO UNK WHICH UNIT UNABLE TO GET OUT ON RADIO – REQ 1185 FB
2:30 PM 3 [12] [Notification] [CHP]-TAKE NACIMIENTO FERGUSON RD THROUGH FORT HUNTER LIGGETT INTO FOREST BOUNDARY 2-3 MILES PAST BOUNDARY // WILL BE NACIMIENTO CAMPGROUND – WILL BE THE 2ND CAMPGROUND CHP WILL GET TO
2:22 PM 2 [6] [Notification] [CHP]-Problem changed from 1182-Trfc Collision-No Inj to HAZMAT-Hazardous Materials Inc by CHP
2:20 PM 1 [1] DUMP TK VS PK TK AT CAMPGROUND

(Did not receive an update from Cal Trans today, and Susana will be out in the field tomorrow.)

Brush Fire – King City, 9/30/17

3 pm – no longer on CHP site, and nothing further anywhere else, so it is over or being wrapped up.

Incident: 00258 Type: Report of Fire Location: Us101 N / Central Loc Desc: NB 101 AT CENTRAL Lat/Lon: 36.233611 -121.174444
Detail Information
12:41 PM 2 [2] BRUSH FIRE
12:41 PM 1 [1] FIRE ENRT

I am just crossing FHL, so will catch up with this when I get home.

Rucker Fire – wildfire near Lompoc, 9/29/17

8 pm – all evac orders lifted. All roads open.

5:30 pm – looks like chain or catalytic converter, frankly. Could be arson, but unusual if it is.

IMG_3257

4:20 pm – Evacuation area is rucker rd east to Harris grade, north to la pursima, including all of north mission hills and cebada canyon. 300 acres

4 pm – It started about 1 and 1/2 hours ago. Air Attack is reporting there are 7 fires, they have not burned together yet. This is all up in the Burton Mesa, La Purisma Mission and Harris Grade area, and is burning in heavy Burton Mesa chapparal. It has a light breeze out of the weat. Anyone who knows this area knows that the winds generally pick up in the evening and come in pretty hard from Vandenberg.

LPF has dispatched a strike team of engines, Dozer 4, AG hotshots, LP hotshots, H-527 and AA07. Lots going on.

Here are 3 photos:

IMG_3253

IMG_3254

IMG_3255

Fire & Rain – Honor BSVFB

 

Over 40 Years of Fire Protection ~ Rescue ~ Emergency Medical Services

Contact: Lana Weeks, LanabytheC@aol.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 20, 2017

Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade is Being Honored Saturday October 21 at Rancho Grande in Big Sur

Big Sur, CA – The Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade (BSVFB) is being honored Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 2:00 pm at Rancho Grande in Big Sur. The event honors the firefighters for their time, talent, and passion for helping others. BSVFB was instrumental in helping to build the Pfeiffer Canyon Bypass Trail this winter on top of their fire protection, rescue and emergency medical services.

Food for the event will be created by Executive Chef Paul Corsentino of Ventana Big Sur and wine will be provided by Steve McIntyre of McIntyre Vineyards. The program begins at 3:30 pm with Masters of Ceremony Chief Emeritus Frank Pinney and John Handy.

Tickets are $100 per person and are limited. All proceeds benefit the Volunteer Fire Brigade.

The mission of the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade is to provide dependable fire protection and emergency services for Big Sur with teamwork, respect and integrity. The Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade was formed in 1974 to provide structure fire protection for the residents and businesses in the Big Sur area. The Brigade now provides both structure and wildland fire protection, along with rescue and emergency medical response for the Big Sur community and its over 4 million annual visitors. The Brigade remains an all-volunteer company, with about 20 members, responding to an area which covers almost 60 miles of coastline along Highway One.

Fire and Rain

An event honoring The Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade

Saturday, October 21, 2017 2:00 pm

Rancho Grande, Big Sur

$100 per person

Tickets, log on to: bigsurfire.bpt.me or call Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006

http://www.bigsurfire.org

By-pass trail parking for locals

The parking area at Big Sur Station for local residents who are using the bypass trail is at full capacity and demand for available spots is increasing with additional employees and contractors being recalled to work on the south side in anticipation of the upcoming opening of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge. Additionally, with this additional demand for parking, there has been an increase in illegal parking in the fire lanes and in or near environmentally sensitive habitat.

As there is no additional parking available at this location, the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce and the Los Padres National Forest Association are urging employees, contractors, and residents to carpool whenever possible and to only park in designated parking areas.

Thank you,

Kirk Gafill
President

Highway Closure Update, 9/25/17

Photos: 1of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) from last Tuesday, Sept. 19, aerial courtesy of John Madonna. 2-3 of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (PM 45.52) showing the bridge deck pour from last Friday night, Sept. 22. Bridge deck pour video, courtesy of Kyle Evans at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B_X4C9Oiv3VvNHFvdGUxOG9GLWM

PM 8.9 Mud Creek by John Madonna 9.19.17PM 45.52 PCB Deck Pour-1 9.22.17PM 45.52 PCB Deck Pour-2 9.22.17

HIGHWAY 1 UPDATE – Monday, Sept. 25:

Highway 1 in Monterey County continues to provide 35 total miles of Hwy. 1 to the public from south of Gorda (PM 10) to just south of Pfeiffer Canyon (PM 45.5), accessible only via Nacimiento-Fergusson Road. State Route 1 remains closed from north of Salmon (just south of the Ranger Station (PM 3) to just south of Gorda (PM 10) due to the Mud Creek event. State Route 1 south of Salmon Creek is accessible via State Route 1 in San Luis Obispo County, past Ragged Point to Salmon Creek.

REMINDER: Travelers CANNOT travel the entire length of Highway 1 but local businesses are open on both sides of the closure points at Pfeiffer Canyon and Salmon Creek.

Mud Creek (PM 8.9)
Mud Creek had a major slide on Saturday, May 20, 2017, losing 5 million cubic yards of material. Caltrans continues with its plan to realign the existing terrain. The projected timeline to safely open to public traffic is late-summer 2018 at an estimated cost of $40 million.

There is currently no public access through the Mud Creek area since this remains an active construction zone.

Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6)
Paul’s Slide is still active but the 24/7 one-way reversing traffic control with flaggers has been replaced by a traffic signal and temporary guardrail (k-rail) in the centerline.

Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge [PCB] (PM 45.52)
The bridge construction continues with the preparation to cast the approach slab at abutment 2 (north side); setting of bridge rail posts; stripping of forms and roadway grading at Abutment 1 (south side). The opening of the new bridge is scheduled in mid-October.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway work zones.

For more information on this project and for traffic updates on other Caltrans projects in Monterey County, residents can call the District 5 toll free number at 1-831-423-0396 or can visit our website at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/paffairs/release.htm#mon.