Category: 2012 Fire Season

Calf fire! Santa Margarita

10:00 pm update- marine lawyer has been heading inland and it is friggin COLD up here, (i consider the current 56 degrees in the middle of July COLD!)and I hear the marine layer is assisting firefighting efforts. Good news for ff on the line. CHP have reopened highway 58 to traffic (it has been closed for most of the day) and fire conditions are no longer a concern tonight. I’ll check on things in the am, but for now, I am calling it a night on this fire.

6:00 pm update- VLAT order filed, so Very Large Air Tanker on way to make a couple drops before nightfall. Due t arrive around 6:40 pm. Fire crossed Parkhill Rd. heading to ridge top. Fire 750 acres with 0% containment. Also has AT 74,76, 80, 81, and 83 on it, as well as copters 523 and 527, acceding to my source near Paso airport and KSBY in SLO. Mandatory evacuations on Parkhill Rd ordered. LPNF sent the following:
BC 31, 32,33, Crew 3, dozen 3, eng 15, E 16, both 4×4, E31, 4×4, E 37,41, 43, 47, 4×4, 801, helo 528, etc.

4:00 pm – Wildfire just east of Santa Margarita at 58 and Pozo. Cal Fire reporting 500 acres and 0% containment. At least two strike teams called out. I am in town on iPhone so will update when I get to River inn, in about 1 and 1/2 hours and can get on my iPad. I also have photos of the rock shed to put up tomorrow, update on BSMAAC meeting Friday, as well as other reports on new BLM leases in Lockwood, Jolon area for gas oil development, possibly fracking. It will be a busy blog week.

Wildfire in SE MoCo

TUesday update: this am it is 2700 acres and 30% contained.

Firefighters are battling a wildfire near Parkfield in southeastern Monterey County.

Fire officials said the fire has burned about 1,500 acres of open grassland near Turkey Flats and Cholame Road. No buildings or power lines have been threatened, fire officials said.

Lime Fire

At 4:30 last evening WildCAD, LPNF reported a “smoke check” called “lime” near the Hermitage and dispatched E16, 17, and 18. A local reported code three fire engines responding down Nacimiento around 5 pm, and a source in Paso reported A/A and tanker 74 responded at the same time. This am, the “smoke check” was reported as being one acre, and nothing visual this morning. I was on my way home from Cambria at the time, so unaware until i woke at 6:00. It happens. Had things to do off line when I got home. Sometimes, I have a life separate from my blog, not often, but sometimes … 😉

Waldo Fire, Colorado Springs

This fire more than doubled overnight from 6500 acres to 15,500 acres. It is a nightmare! 32,000 people were evacuated yesterday. My daughter, Crystal Cannon, took this photo last evening on her way home from work. Her husband is a volunteer firefighter, and was sent out last night to fight the fire. She and the kids have the car packed and ready to go, if ordered.

20120627-083550.jpg

And here is one her husband published to FB, unknown photographer.

20120627-085535.jpg

I know I don’t normally publish about out-of-state wildfires, but this one is hitting close to home for me.

Colorado Wildfires

I don’t cover out-of-area wildfires, in most cases, and I’m not going to cover these, except to let my readers know I am a tad preoccupied. There are many going on in the state, one of which is Waldo Canyon, just outside Colorado Springs, where my daughter and 3 of my grandchildren live. 11,000 people were evacuated this morning. Not my daughter. Nevertheless, it is close enough to worry, and to spend much of my online time keeping up with the status. Once I am no longer preoccupied, I have photos and events to cover. Hopefully in the next couple of days.

OZENA Fire

Sunday update – not much additional data this am, as all concerns are looking toward a larger and more difficult wind-driven fire in Riverside Co. Called the Highland Fire. It is between Beaumont and Banning. I generally don’t cover these out-of-area fires. As of 1 pm, the Ozena fire is 100% contained at 250 acres. Nice save, firefighters!

At 3:30 this afternoon a 5 acre fire was reported in Lockwood Valley. 15 minutes later it was 50 acres. By 7:15 pm, it was reported to be over 250 acres.The ICP has been set up at OZENA FF, and a briefing has been scheduled for 6 am. The fuel is reported as grass, with structures threatened. Last heard fire is at 250 acres and moving east towards Scheideck camp, its been evacuated. Fire is staying on the south side of Lockwood valley rd., east of hwy 33. It seems to be in the footprint of the “day” fire.

At 10:00 pm, I called a friend who lives in Lockwood (which is way north of Lockwood Valley, which is in Ventura County, while Lockwood is in Monterey County) who said they had been out to the south, and the smoke was really bad. Tonight they can see a glow to the SW from Lockwood itself. Will be watching this one as long as it deserves watching, but while it is in the Los Padres National Forest, it is not a threat here.

Controlled Burn at FHL no longer controlled?

Sat. Update – no plumes, and no wind to speak of. That is a good thing.

For DAYS we have had lots of smoke, due to a controlled burn in Stoney Valley. Finally, it is being reported as a wildfire. WildCAD-LPNF reported a dispatch of BC 12 and Engines 15 and 16 at 1747 hours. It is in the Hay Camp area. I will be following this, of course. The good news is there is no column I can see.

Smoke drift

3:20 pm – got confirmation that FHL is doing a controlled burn in Stoney Valley. Let us hope it doesn’t get away.

3:00 pm – can find nothing out. One source says he can see the drift to the east of him in Paso, but nothing is being reported anywhere that I have found. I’ll keep trying.

2:15 pm – The first thing one notices up here with a fire, is the change in the light. I noticed that this morning, so I was keeping an eye out … Then Boogie showed up, then Rock Knocker showed up, then Bill and Jane showed up. A whole week of visitors in just one day. Now that all are gone, I am seeing a lot of drift. WildCAD, LPNF is showing nothing, either is CHP. I am checking in with my sources, and will update when I have additional. It is definitely east, but can’t see any plumes. Will go to top of ridge in back for a better view if I can’t get anything and will update this post shortly.

Fire Season, 2012

Yesterday, there were two fires in SLO County. The largest, a couple hundred acres, was on Camp Roberts. The second started on the center divider of 101 and spread to the north bound lanes, near Welsona. CAL FIRE picked this one up. There was also a smoke check by LPNF for the west fork of Limekiln. The biggest fire, so far, was Wednesday and Thursday at training area 8 on Fort Hunter Leggitt. That one I and a neighbor smelled a strong smell of smoke Thursday night all the way up here.

A gentle reminder that fire season is here and we need to be cautious and aware.

Fire Clearance

I have had two wonderful guys here for the last two days (weed-wacking, brush clearing, and tree trimming) and what a difference! I had a bunch of weed-wacking done last month, also. We have one more day left, Thursday, and we will be done, except for the CDCR guys on the steep north side that Cal-Fire promised me under the South Coast Fire Mitigation grant. I will also do some heavy equipment work with the burn piles, and access, but now I can see what it needs! Thank you, John Handy, Lara, and Jon! I will easily meet my matching funds target, and I couldn’t be more pleased.

I can actually begin to see how this all can be managed, and made almost park-like, but still wild, without the grass. I can see where an orchard can go next winter, and paths I can meander. Such a joy – not to mention making my place SOOOO much safer for me and for firefighters. 2000 was the last time a fire came through here, and finally, I am prepared. Firefighters will find it a joy to come through or to here, now. Still the wild and untamed South Coast of Big Sur, but with the gentle hand of bigsurkate caressing her cheek.

(BTW, first, since i posted about my fire clearance today, I figured, even though it rained a bit yesterday, and it is still early in June, it is time to switch over from winter weather, to summer fire links. Also, I’ll be copying this to the Big Sur Fire Mitigation Grant, South Coast Version page soon, and adding before and after photos, as well as a final report upon completion. Any participants are invited to do the same!)