Category: 2009 Fire Season

Death of a Firefighter

Today, flags fly at half-mast for a firefighter lost on Tuesday.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today released the following statement regarding the death of U.S. Forest Service Firefighter Thomas Marovich of Hayward:

“Maria and I join all Californians in expressing our deep sadness over the passing of U.S. Forest Service Firefighter Thomas Marovich. Thomas selflessly dedicated his life to protecting our communities and saving lives and we are forever indebted to his service. Our hearts go out to Thomas’ family, friends and fellow firefighters as they mourn this terrible loss.”

Marovich, 20, died July 21 as a result of injuries sustained while performing routine rappel proficiency skill training at the Backbone Helibase in Willow Creek. Marovich was a second-year apprentice with the U.S. Forest Service at the Modoc National Forest and was working with the Chester Helitack Crew from the Lassen National Forest which was assigned to the Backbone Fire at the time of the accident.

In honor of Firefighter Marovich, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff.

BSVFB Muster Photos

I’m sitting in cool, wonderful Morro Bay, where not only is it cool, but the internet is SOO much faster. I remembered I owed you some muster photos, so without further ado … (no comments, or names, just photos. Okay, a few silly comments.)
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Okay, so the internet is only a little faster, and I don’t have time to load a whole bunch, so a few more now, and a few more later.
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And no editing on any of these. What you see is what you get. Some of us have to work for a living.
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We all know this guy, don’t we? He’s the guy behind our new fire chief.
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And here’s to the woman behind our retiring chief (not the one above, he’s got another fabulous woman behind him!)
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There she is, on the left.
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And food. Did I mention the food? Lots and lots of food.
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The man of the hour — giving an interview.
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That’s the line for the food. A long, l-o-n-g line. There were lots of us.
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And what’s a muster, without some mustering?
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Go to it, boys!!

I’ve got lots more photos, but I rarely seem to get around to Round 2. There are always other things to report, other photos to take. But I’ll try. No promises, but I’ll try.
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A group shot I meant to include. Photographers shooting photographers, again.
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Those of you who know me, know I am a hat lady. I cannot resist a good hat, or a photo of it.
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And red hats are my favorites!

I shot in both jpg and raw. Those close-ups of people in jpg were too saturated, and the skin tones not right, so I posted the raw ones. Of groups or the muster, the saturation was just about right, so I used the jpg ones. You can tell the differences. As I said, these are straight out of the camera, I didn’t have time for editing, and one can tell. I am always learning.

Lake (Nacimiento) Fire

8:30 pm – no additional information. Last word was 100 acres and 50% contained. I did not get up to look at it, was preparing a bunch of work that has to be mailed or overnighted tomorrow. Sorry. Work sometimes gets in the way of life, you know?

5 pm – New fire this afternoon by the lake, near the dam. Moderate to rapid ROS anticipated. These high temperatures cannot be helping. I will go out later to take a look, as my perch up here provides a view, although, I must go up to the top of the property. I will update this post later this evening as I obtain more information. For those not familiar with the area, while it is miles away from the South Coast of Big Sur, it is visible from here, and the terrain in between is unforgiving.

With the blazing hot temps (116 at the lake today) we’ve had for days, this one may well go beyond initial attack. So far, with all the fires starting across the state, Cal-Fire has been knocking them down in record time. Great job, guys and gals!!

I just heard that this one has been “picked up.” That appears to mean, under control, but I’ve never had official confirmation of the term. It is being reported at 100 acres and 50% contained at 5:15 pm. Good news. But I will continue to keep abreast of developments.

Here is a live feed: (caveat, I have not tried it, yet.)
Online feed is http://www.sloweather.com/firescanner.htm

Smoke on Horizon

The problem with living “On Top o’ the World,” is I see everything. There is smoke drift, particularly visible at sunset, although I saw it earlier this afternoon, too.

Last I heard, earlier this afternoon, the fire on the NV/CA border, up by Reno was about 7K acres. I also read about several new fires down in LA County, and of a new fire between Lookwood and San Ardo. (seems to have been contained in rapid fashion.)

I’ve purused all my usual sources, and find nothing to explain it. I am working late tonight so that I can attend the BSVFB Muster/BBQ/Retirement Party tomorrow.

Maybe the million acres that have burned in AK this month have finally made it down this far, or the Backbone in the Trinity Alps, or the Redrock/Trailer complex up by Reno. But I can’t smell smoke, so I will continue working, and see some of you tomorrow.

Tourists in the Wilds

Campgrounds are full. This was Plaskett Creek Campground, early on a Tuesday afternoon.

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Tourons enter the wilds.

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They leave footprints every where they go.

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And by next weekend, the sign will be run over again. And a few, rare people at the Ventana Wilderness Alliance wonder why I get bent out of shape.

Slight chance of thundershowers tonight

Most of us here on the Central Coast have noted the clouds overhead today. NOAA has a forecast discussion of interest to us.

“TRACE AMOUNTS OF PRECIP HAVE BEEN REPORTED AT THE MONTEREY CLIMATE STATION…NEAR HOLLISTER AND IN LIVERMORE SO FAR. NO LIGHTNING HAS BEEN DETECTED YET…BUT MAINLY DUE TO FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS A SLIGHT CHANCE WAS ADDED TO THE HILL ZONES FROM THE EAST BAY SOUTHWARD THROUGH MONTEREY/SAN BENITO COUNTY FOR THIS EVENING.

LATEST RADAR RETURNS AND EXAMINATION OF VISIBLE SATELLITE SUGGESTS THAT NEXT BAND OF MOISTURE CURRENTLY WEST OF BIG SUR COULD BE A LITTLE MORE UNSTABLE. FOR NOW HAVE LEFT ANY SHOWER/T-STORM CHANCES IN THE 15-20% RANGE FROM THE EAST BAY SOUTHWARD THROUGH THIS EVENING WITH ANY CHANCES ENDING BY ABOUT 12Z AS UPPER TROUGH AXIS PUSHES MOISTURE AXIS TO OUR EAST. SO WILL MONITOR PRECIP TRENDS THIS EVENING WITH DRY FORECAST FOR SUNDAY.”

And an 8:45 update:
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BROKEN OUT…A FEW NEAR THE DELTA LATE THIS AFTERNOON…AND ONE NEAR HALF MOON BAY EARLY THIS EVENING. GRIDS AND VARIOUS PUBLIC AND FIRE WEATHER TEXT
FORECASTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED THIS EVENING TO BETTER REFLECT CURRENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. ALSO…BASED ON RADAR AND SATELLITE DATA…IT APPEARS THAT ISOLATED SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY MAY LAST PAST MIDNIGHT AND SO HAVE EXTENDED RAINFALL CHANCES THROUGH THE NIGHT.

Unofficial Fire Watch

Soaring isn’t here any more. No “official” fire watchers exist. I am here and care. So, I watch.

I came up tonight to note a “huge” group at Hard Rocks driveway. Partying. Young kids need a place to party that is safe. As long as they have no campfire. So, I see about 8 to 12 vehicles parked at Hard Rocks.I must come out after dark and check. Is that a light or is it a fire? We luck out. No campfire, and I don’t need to call it in. I check Prewitt Ridge, Willow Creek, and all the areas I can see for campfires. None. Good Friday Night.

Tough, being on Top O’ the World.

BSCWPP Meeting

The meeting is tonight, 7/8/09 from 7-9 pm at the South Coast Community Center. A similar meeting is scheduled for the North Coast tomorrow night.

From Joyce, she writes:

Hi,
There is a meeting here tonight at PV school and one tomorrow night at the state park. I hope that many locals will attend.
My point of view on last year’s fires:
I know that on the second day of what became known as the Basin Complex Fire, Don Case’s house and his daughter’s house burned down on Stone Ridge, along with two other homes. A mandatory evacuation had been enforced.
No one, including the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Department, was allowed up the road. Don’s son and son-in-law got around the road-block and were able to save some photos, some tools, and some of Don’s paintings, before they were ordered off the hill. Everything else burned and melted.
I know that some of our neighbors and friends defied the law and stayed to fight the fire. They saved not just their own homes, but, as a result, the rest of Big Sur. Had they not made a stand and risked arrest and incarceration, the Fire would have won.
The Chalk Fire on the southcoast had different people in charge and they respected the will of the locals and allowed them to fight for their homes.
I urge you all to attend this meeting and have a voice in the way this community responds to disaster. Protect our rights to protect our property!
Joyce

Fire Restrictions

I did not get an “official” notice from the USFS, but signs were posted down here in the Silver Peak Wilderness Area today. It has been incredibly hot, very low humidity, so I am not surprised.
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And now, for tonight’s sunset:
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That’s the long view. Here’s the close up:
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Have a blessed week, everyone!

BSCWPP meeting

Got this great flyer, with photo, tried to just upload it here, but noooo. So here’s the text, anyway.

PLANNING . . is . . PREPARATION
Come find out about the Big Sur Community
Wildfire Protection Plan and make sure your
views are included in the planning process.
The program for the two-hour public meeting
will include:
 Information about the project team;
 Description of the goals and objectives of the plan
preparation process;
 Status of the technical parts of the project;
 Public comment period, and;
 Next steps.
Date: July 8, 2009
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Location: Pacific Valley School