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.

Parkfield Fire, 7/8/17

9:20 pm – 500 acres, per Cal Fire.

9:00 pm – PER CO RDS, HAVE CLOSURES IN PLACE AT: INDIAN VLY AT VINEYARD CYN / INDIAN VLY AT CROSS CYN / CROSS CYN AT PLEASANT (WHICH COVERS LOWES CYN – UNABLE TO CLOSE AT LOWES CYN BECAUSE VEHS UNABLE TO TURN AROUND AND SLOSO AWARE

Also evacuations but unknown where. Lastly, one firefighter suffered 2nd degree burns to his face and hands. He was airlifted out to a burn center.

7 pm – Location: Vineyard Canyon Rd x Cross Country Rd
Acres: 100
ROS: Dangerous rate of spread
ROC: 100 acres, requesting 1 additional Charlie strike team, 1 Lima ST, 2 Gulf STs. Fire burning on both sides of the road. In both MoCo and SLO

Ordered 2 more ATs for a total of 6.

Here are some photos I found online:

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Another SLO Fire – Chalk Fire and a SB Co. one, Whittier Fire

4 pm here is a shot of the Whittier Fire. (The Chalk Fire is a done deal)

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3 pm – Busy day on the Central Coast. The newest one  is up by the Chalk Mountain Golf Course in Atascadero Do not know size or have further info.

The one called Whittier has capped out and is 200 acres, right now. It is in some rough terrain. It is in the Los Padres NF in Santa Barbara County off 154 near Lake Cachuma.

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Alamo and Tower still going so fires will be competing for resources.

Alamo Fire Doubles Overnight, 7/8/17

3:00 pm – Alamo Fire up to 19,000 acres.

7:30 am – Fire officials report the fire has burned about 6,000 acres as of 7:00 a.m. Saturday and remains 10 percent contained. High temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds caused the fire to double in size.

A red flag warning is in effect for the area where the fire is burning, indicating extreme high temperatures, low humidities and sundowner winds.

Santa Barbara County Fire Captain Dave Zaniboni reports 1,000 firefighters have been assigned to the Alamo Fire. He anticipates more resources will arrive and be ordered Saturday.

Fire officials are watching wind conditions closely. Capt. Zaniboni says if the winds shift out of the northwest, like they did Friday afternoon, the fire could burn into the Tepusquet Canyon area where numerous people have homes and property.

Mandatory evacuations remain in place for Blazing Saddle Drive, White Rock Lane, Tepusquet Road and Colson Canyon Road. Approximately 300 residents in the area were notified.

Highway 166 remained closed from Highway 101 to Tepusquet Road.

The fire was first reported shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. The cause is under investigation.

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Photos by KSBY

 

Fire – Carmel Valley, The Preserve, Chamisal Pass area

6:30 pm – while sirens still being heard, the smoke is no longer visible, and witnesses say the retardant drops were quick and effective, and this one may be in mop up now

6 pm – Still gathering info

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Tower Fire – Cuesta Grade, SLO

9 pm – Tower fire (update) fire holding at approx 60 acres. 45 to 50% contained. Crews working through the night on containment.

6 pm – will continue to follow this fire, but a fire closer to home in Carmel Valley needs my attention. I’ll check back later on this one.

5:00 pm -100 acres. AA reports he has Tankers 12, 16, 82, 75, 80 and Helo 530….all were diverted from the Alamo fire to the Tower Fire

4:45 pm – 30 acres, dangerous rate of spread.

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Fires in SLO Co & Santa Cruz Co – Alamo Fire

6 pm – I have a fire in CV on Chamisal Pass I need to follow, so won’t be doing but maybe one more update tonight on this one. Also following the Tower Fire on Cuesta Grade.

5:30 pm –

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Smoke from the Alamo Fire seen from above Friday afternoon. (San Luis Obispo City Fire Department photo)

4:30 pm – Alamo is up to 3,000, a gain of 2500 acres in 1/2 an hour. mandatory evac for Blazing Saddles Road underway

4 pm – Santa Cruz fire stopped at 2 acres, but the Alamo Fire went nuclear and doubled in less than an hour.

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Flames from the Alamo Fire are visible from the Santa Maria Mesa area. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo)

3:00 pm  – The fire in SLO Co started yesterday and is called Alamo Fire. It is 250 acres, but with 1/4 mile spotting and a dangerous rate of spread and looks to be blowing up at this hour. 7 hours ago, it was basically a done deal, they thought. Now it is anything but. It is off of EB SR 166 near Alamo Creek. It is currently burning in both SLO Co. and SB Co.

#AlamoIC (update) incident commander ordering evacuations for the Tepusquet Blazzing Saddles area. Orders being given by Santa Barbara Cnty

Winds caused it to jump the lines, it has crossed hwy 166.

This is from the roof of the Santa Maria PD this afternoon:

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And in Santa Cruz, a fire started out by the Golf Course about an hour ago. Here is what CHP posted.

2:49 PM 16 [32] ***UPPER PARK AT BRANICORTE AND UPPER PARK AT ARMORY ARE CLOSED DOWN BY SCRZ PD
2:15 PM 15 [9] B26-015 FIRE APPEARS JNO GOLF OCURSE / FIRE STAGING IN GOLF COURSE
2:11 PM 14 [26] [Appended, 14:23:15] [16] [Appended, 14:11:44] [4] PER RP MAY BE ASSOC W/ DE LAVEAGA FIRE – NETCOM ADVSD RP FIRE IS SPREADING RAPIDLY
2:11 PM 13 [25] [Appended, 14:23:15] [15] [Appended, 14:11:44] [3] RP ADV THIS MAY BE ASSOC W/ DE LAVEAGA PARK FIRE RP UNSURE
2:10 PM 12 [23] [Appended, 14:23:15] [13] [Appended, 14:11:44] [1] RP SEES COLUMN OF SMOKE FM NEW BRIGHTON BEACH NORHT TWRDS APTS OF NEW BRIGHTON BEACDH
2:08 PM 11 [8] PER RP THIS IS SEPERATE FM DE LAVEAGA FIRE
2:07 PM 10 [7] B26-015 24 / NUMEROUS FIRE ENGINES
2:07 PM 9 [20] [Appended, 14:23:15] [8] [Appended, 14:08:34] [4] RP ADV FIRE IS VISIBLE FM WATER ST
2:07 PM 8 [19] [Appended, 14:23:15] [7] [Appended, 14:08:34] [3] NETCOM ADV WILDLAND FIRE IS ONGOING
2:07 PM 7 [18] [Appended, 14:23:15] [6] [Appended, 14:08:34] [2] SMOKE SEEN FM HILLS NEAR DE LAVEAGA PARK
2:06 PM 6 [17] [Appended, 14:23:15] [5] [Appended, 14:08:34] [1] FIRE NEAR DE LA VEAGA PARK
2:04 PM 5 [5] FIRE IS 400 YARDS FM RP’S HOUSE
2:03 PM 4 [16] [Appended, 14:23:15] [10] [Appended, 14:09:47] [1] TRANS TO NET COM
2:03 PM 3 [3] RP SEES LRG AMT OF GRY/WHI SMOKE
2:02 PM 2 [1] FIRE IN SCZ MOUNTAINS
2:00 PM 1 [13] [Appended, 14:23:15] [1] BLK SMOKE SEEN

Highway Closure Update, 7/7/17

Photos below of 1) Mud Creek (PM 8.9) Amazing aerial, courtesy of John Madonna from May 28. 2 and 3) Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) photo from yesterday. 4) Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge (PM 45.52)– Casting Abutment 1 back wall, rebar installation and iron worker trimming long vertical bars.

*NO MAJOR CONVOYS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK (JULY 10-14)*

HIGHWAY 1 UPDATE – FRIDAY, JULY 7:

STATE ROUTE 1 CLOSURE FROM NORTH OF SALMON CREEK (JUST SOUTH OF THE RANGER STATION [PM 3])TO THE MAF (PM 46.35), NORTH OF THE PFEIFFER CANYON BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION IN MON COUNTY.

PAUL’S SLIDE ON STATE ROUTE 1 CONTINUES WITH USUAL ACCESS SCHEDULE TO LOCAL RESIDENTS/DELIVERIES. WE WILL CONTINUE RE-ASSESSING AND AN UPDATE PROVIDED BY MID-DAY MONDAY, JULY 10 (See Update under “Paul’s Slide” for more details.)
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STATE ROUTE 1 REMAINS FULLY CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AT MUD CREEK DUE TO CONTINUED SLIDE ACTIVITY. DELIVERY VEHICLES AND LOCAL RESIDENTS WILL NEED TO USE NACIMIENTO-FERGUSSON TO EXIT SOUTH OR TO CLEAR THE ACCESS TIMES AT PAUL’S SLIDE.

THE INFORMATION BELOW IS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND DELIVERY VEHICLES ONLY;THE ONLY ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC HAS CHANGED AND IS SHOWN BELOW.

Public Access on Highway 1 now at two locations:
The closure has moved up five miles to the north from Ragged Point (Slo PM 72.87) to north of Salmon Creek and just south of the Ranger Station (Mon PM 3.0).
Using Nacimiento-Fergusson, will be to Gorda (PM 10) to the south and to Limekiln State Park (PM 20.76) to the north.
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Mud Creek (PM 8.9) – MUD CREEK HAD A MAJOR SLIDE/SLIP OUT AT 9:30 PM, SATURDAY, MAY 20 – IT LOST MILLIONS OF CUBIC YARDS OF MATERIAL. GEOTECHNICAL AND RADAR ASSESSMENTS CONTINUE AT THE SITE AND INCLUDES: FIELD MAPPING, RADAR MONITORING, REVIEW OF USGS PHOTOGRAMMETRIC SURVEY DATA AND BORINGS. IT REMAINS IMPASSABLE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) – CONTINUES WITH USUAL ACCESS SCHEDULE TO LOCAL RESIDENTS/DELIVERIES.

12:00PM Monday / Wednesday / Friday– A single caravan south and a single caravan north, you must be in line by noon! There may be up to 45 minute delay to clear the road before the opening.

Delivery vehicles (Restriction is 30 feet maximum length and 50,000 lbs. maximum weight) can now use all access windows 7 days a week.

Access times for the morning and evening are still the same except for Friday:

5:30AM to 6:00AM and 7:00PM to 7:30PM – Sat.-Thurs.

Friday’s hours: 5:30AM – 8:00AM and 6:00PM to 7:30PM

The noon opening will be for PAUL’S SLIDE ONLY, (NOT MUD CREEK); you will need to use Nacimiento-Fergusson Road to exit the coast.

The targeted “public access” date is currently mid-July (July 15-20), dependent on roadway conditions and slide activity. A closer date will be determined next week.

Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge [PCB] (PM 45.52)
Girders continue to be fabricated in Vallejo, CA and are being sent to Linden, CA (near Stockton) for painting before being trucked over to the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge construction site.
Temporary Tower completion and welding
Mud Creek assessment progress continues but is closed until further notice. We continue to bring convoys with 10-wheelers containing loads of material: gravel, sand, equipment and other items via convoys through Nacimiento-Fergusson with CHP escorts – the next convoy is yet to be determined.

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Unified Command Meeting Notes

For those of us who cannot attend, it is nice to finally get the notes from these meetings. Martha sent this to me yesterday.

Highway One Incident
Unified Command, BSVFB/OES.
Bulletin
Monday July 3rd meeting/conference call.

Situation:
3 road closures along Highway One from SLO County line to MM 45. One at Mud CK. approximately MM 8, one at Paul’s slide approximately MM 22 and one at Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge approximately MM 45.

Traffic for residents/deliveries only, ingress and egress is over Nacimiento-Fergusson road through Paul’s slide. See Cal Trans bulletins for times or call 805-549-3138 for further information.

State Parks: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Partington Cove and the trails on the East side of the highway are closed. Pfeiffer State Park reopened almost all of its campsites and day use areas July 1, 2017. Andrew Molera State Park expects to have a trail to the beach open by July 30, 2017.

The Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge bypass trail opened to the public July 1, 2017. Must have a permit to park in the back country parking, parking for residents/workers only.
For more information call 831-667-2315.

USFS: The forest is closed mainly on the Pine Ridge trail and within the Soberanes fire “footprint”, there are other closures. For more information call 831-385-5434.
(Pfeiffer Beach is closed to everyone)

The Old Coast/County road is closed to vehicle traffic.

Businesses:
All businesses north of the PCB at MM 45 are open.

Businesses that are open south of the PCB are: Deli/Taphouse, Loma Vista gas station, (limited hours) Post Ranch Inn, Nepenthe and the Hawthorne Gallery, (limited hours).

A shuttle service began on July 1, 2017 from Andrew Molera parking lot to the camp store in the back of Pfeiffer Park. Contact Sur Transportation for details, 831-667-5075 or 831-238-1203.

Updates: Monday, July 3 2107.

Cal Trans: Paul’s slide is close to completing the “cut”, mid-July still the target opening date. Close to getting the permit to complete the turnaround at the Post Office. They are not aware of any issues with the south bridge abutment at PCB, will confirm.

State Parks: The opening went well, there was one rescue. OK for bicyclists to carry their bikes across the trail, no need to take the front wheel off.

Shuttle: Went well, approximately a little under 100 riders that came from Molera each day on Saturday and Sunday. Should be able to use a State Parks annual pass to park at Molera free for the shuttle.

Trail: Thanks to Nepenthe for staffing a table at the top of the trail, they counted the people coming up the trail for 4 days. No break down as to residents, campers, but you can deduct the numbers from the shuttle to get an idea. 7/1, 284 people. 7/2 428, 7/3 382. All things considered for opening on a holiday weekend only a few incidents we are aware of. Maybe more signage for the trail, USFS will put up a sign addressing fire danger. Request for a garbage receptacle.

CHP: Starting the 7th will have an Officer patrolling Friday through Monday regularly from 09:00 to 19:30 on the south end, he or she should come up as far north as the deli.

SO: Jesse is out patrolling regularly, both south and north of the PCB.

Unified Command: Discussed the need to continue after Paul’s slide is open, no objections voiced. CT conference calls will continue.
We will plan the next UC meeting on July 17th to be on the south side at the fire house.

Other: Tourists walking and biking in the road, electric bike tours advertising going to closed areas, (Parks to address). Other advertising showing illegal bonfires on the beach, USFS to address. Residents and tourists crossing the PCB work area after hours, SO to confirm the signage, they will start citing. Traffic on Nacimiento road, we will respond as usual to any incidents. Suggestion to put a “no camping” sign at the bottom of Naci so people know they cannot camp alongside the road.
Campers have nowhere to camp on the south side, and bicyclists have no through traffic as Paul’s slide is a closed area for residents/deliveries only, they either should not be heading south or should return the same day.

Call 911 for any emergencies.

Then & Now

Thanks to Sylvia Trotter Anderson, in a comment on an earlier post, I was pointed to this valuable resource. Whoever digitalized this deserves our deepest gratitude. Here is a screen shot of the headlines of this gem.

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Here is the link: Big Sur Gazette, May 1980.

It is 56 pages, and a lot to digest, but very well worth the time you will spend. For example, you will find this from then Congressman Leon Panetta: Making Big Sur a National Park would “…induce the kind of rampant tourism that would itself destroy the precious and unique qualities of the area.” (Gazette, p.4, last column.) It seems we didn’t need to become a National Park for that to happen. But then, no one could have anticipated the effect that Social Media would have.

Doug Madsen described Big Sur this way: “Big Sur is really a spiritual retreat, a place wher you can live in harmony with animals and trees and the sun and the moon.” (Gazette, p. 15, “Spiritual Retreat.”)

May this now historical document help you take a look at the changes we have seen. Even if you don’t read all of the testimony before congress regarding turning Big Sur into a State Park (which I would love to see you do) You will get a kick out of the ads from back then. Anyone remember Tom Nash’s (now an attorney) Taxi Service??? Some of us will remember that, but not until that old memory is startled into recognition. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. I will be using it as a background for other posts and considerations in the future.

I’ll leave you with the extemporaneous quote by Senator S.I. Hayakawa, Big Sur is a “crazy place inhabited by rich & poor hippies…unique bohemians…who are zealous conservationists.” (Gazette, p. 36.)

If you are interested in reading any of the 4 years of issues of the Gazette, one can find the Index here.

 

 

 

 

Remote Sensing Coastal Change Project – Mud Creek

There are a fascinating series of photographs of this area at this site. I have reviewed and studied these before, but I don’t think I have ever directed people to the website, which is

Here

Here is one example:

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This is when it all started – on my birthday. Witnesses on Gorda Mountain watched and photographed, and I posted about it. Anyway, check out this USGS site, if you are interested. It is fascinating.