In today’s (Saturday, July 12) Salinas Californian, Kenny Wright wrote:

“I would like to share a perspective on those in Big Sur who chose to remain during the evacuation and fire. While many know Big Sur for its scenic beauty, fewer understand the character of its community of self-reliant, capable citizens.

Living in Big Sur is not the same as visiting, nor of having a vacation home here. It requires the willingness to accept the periodic power outages, road closures due to mud slides and wildfires as part of living in a world-class area of great natural beauty.

It is also a community which retains frontier values, paramount amongst them – the willingness to assist the community and one’s neighbors in the event of natural disasters.

During the almost 40 years I have lived in Big Sur, this is the spirit I have practiced and observed. During the road closures, fires and evacuations of the past I have worked with public agencies to assist their efforts, to assist members of the community and the Big Sur businesses.

Into this context stepped Monterey County Sheriff Mike Kanalakis, the first time since his election that he had the opportunity to serve the community of Big Sur in the face of an emergency. His failure to provide the necessary leadership was complete and unmitigated. By the nature of the mandatory evacuation and its effect on the residents, as well as businesses, many in the community were both homeless and unemployed.

As a result of the inconsistent and seemingly vindictive enforcement of the evacuation order, some members of the community signed county liability waiver forms in order to stay and protect the community and assist the firefighting effort, only later to learn that if they attempted to leave their property they were subject to arrest.

Despite the callous law enforcement component of this evacuation, we in the Big Sur community are deeply grateful to the courageous efforts of the firefighters. Throughout the critical days of the Basin fire, crews from agencies throughout the country worked long and often dangerous hours on behalf of this community.

I am a retired peace officer, having spent 23 years as the resident CHP officer in Big Sur and well understand the role of law enforcement in times of natural disaster. I also recognize the chest thumping of those in positions of authority who perceive that authority has been challenged.

This is the behavior that the sheriff manifested during this time of opportunity to demonstrate leadership, compassion and community-based law enforcement. Despite the efforts of many of our elected representatives, notably U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, Assemblymember John Laird, D-Santa Cruz; and county Supervisor Dave Potter, it was many critical days before they were able to influence the decisions of Kanalakis.

The only voice I seem to have in his regard is at the ballot box. I certainly intend to make my voice heard at the next election.

KEN WRIGHT lives in Juan Higuera Canyon in Big Sur.”

GO, KENNY!!

This afternoon, I noticed smoke plumes coming from the north east, which worried me a bit. I kept trying to get information online, but nada.

About 8:30 pm, Kimball calls me about what he’s seeing in the thermal images around the upper reaches of Cone Peak Rd. He sends me a thermal, and it does not look good. I look on his website (http://www.surcoast.com/fire.html) and view a thermal he uploaded at around 4, and then another around 8:30. This was spooky, as it showed considerable growth.

I called OES, 4 times, before I got any information I considered even half-way reliable. Eventually, what I was told was that what I was seeing was a 500 acre “slop-over” from the Indians. The USFS is aware of it, and has people there. It did get some air attack this afternoon. According to firefighterblog.blogspot.com, IC Mike D. is expecting it to reach N-F Rd in 24 hours.

Tonight, at 11 pm, I could see the glow of the flames east of Cone Peak. Of course, in the dark, it looked large to me. At midnight, I could see nothing. Whether that was due to smoke, control or any other factor, I have no way of knowing.

As most of us up here know, today there was a strong wind out of the north, very high temperatures, and low humidity. A perfect storm.

Tassajara update: Fire went right through the Zen Center. Lost the birdhouse, the bathroom by the pool, and some of the lower garden, but the rest survived in tact, and all 5 people who stayed behind to save the Zen Center survived as well. A great save by 5 courageous and dedicated people. Congratulations!!

StationKATE

So, keep an eye out. It’s not over, yet.

Quick update, for those who are checking, and then I’ll do a a more complete update tonight.
The wind really picked up, up here on my ridge all afternoon.

I see increased smoke plumes to the north east of me, possibly by Rodeo Flats, but I cannot tell. I am hoping this is part of the back burning operation, because I have been unable to find any info on it.

The fire is at Tassajara. 5 people remained behind, but not firefighters, as it was felt to be too dangerous.

“Director David Zimmerman reported via telephone that everyone is safe at Tassajara and that the fire has entered Tassajara. The crew is putting out spot fires, and they are continuing to water down the buildings and the grounds. The feeling is that with the watering, the riparian valley is defending against the fire. We will continue to update you as information becomes available.”

StationKATE

There are many other places to get “official” information, so tonight, I want to provide you with impressions, thoughts, and photographs. Big Sur still is and will be. It has simply changed. It is the phoenix, rising. It is the power of the human spirit, the vastness of Mother Nature. To me, it symbolizes what we are capable of.

I witnessed the smoke on the north side of the Little Sur River. Heavy smoke.

Approaching Andrew Molera State Park, the blackened hills were clearly visible.

I drove all the way from Carmel to Gorda this afternoon. I pulled over a number of times to cry. And yet, I saw many Big Surians who are hopeful — positively working to bring us back to the beauty and spiritual awakening that brought most of us here, in the first place. And people who were gathering together in the spirit of cooperation bringing a vast array of talents and interests together.

Michael Miller of Miller Construction, Rocky Creek, brought together the Monterey Planning Department, homeowners, contractors, and even an insurance adjuster for a meeting at the Grange this afternoon.

Mike Stevens, a local plumber , literally, chased me down on the highway near the State Park and told me about the meeting at the Grange, suggesting (strongly, I might add, as he followed me to MAF to make sure I understood the meeting was at the Grange — Thank you, Mike) that I attend this meeting. I did, and was glad I did, even though I could stay only long enough to catch the mood of the meeting, and not long enough to hear the Monterey County Planning Department tell us how they were going to work with homeowners who were damaged, and how they could make us whole. I left, knowing that there was a land-use lawyer, Aengus Jeffers present.

I apologized for having to leave, but I still had to drive through the tough Anderson Canyon to Big Creek active fire area, and I had a long, slow drive home. As I left, my dear friend, Joyce Duffy, followed me out for one of the hugs that Big Sur is so famous for. We hug freely here, and often. She had not been back to Stone Ridge to see the remains of her house. That would wait for another time. I left, feeling confident about the range of community representation that was present.

Scorched earth and green trees

Clean up is in progress. Hoses waiting by the side of the road, waiting for pick up.

The Anderson Canyon area to just before Big Creek, was still active. However, the fog was up to the road, the temperatures were cool, humidity was high, so things were moving slowly and there were engines and crews on hand, keeping an eye on things. South Coast smoke.

And, finally, tonight’s sunset, once again.

I took this yesterday, between Andrew Molera and River Inn. If you look closely, you can see smoke from the smoldering.

I will be driving home with supplies this afternoon, probably stopping often, in turn outs, to take photographs of my journey. I will add a few in my post this evening.

Everyone is feeling as if we’ve turned the corner on this one, and I for one am breathing easier, despite the smoke. I’m looking to reestablish some normalcy and routine tomorrow.

StationKATE, in Carmel.

It was annouced that Highway One, all the way through, will be opened sometime tomorrow for locals ONLY! Great news!!

All mail was transferred back to the Big Sur Post Office this afternoon. I do not know at this time, if that means mail delivery will resume sometime tomorrow, or not, but that is a good guess. Guess only, at this point.

StationKATE, reporting live from Clear Ridge

Getting better. The fire gained only 288 acres last night, there is only 9 more miles of fire line to build, and I spoke to Lori, the USFS fire information officer just a little while ago, and she asked me to remind everyone that when the currently closed section of road, between JP Burns and Lucia opens back up to locals, only, make sure you pay attention to falling rock, and possibly trees, as some areas have suffered extensive damage, and it is still pretty active on the east side.

Currently, I am in Big Sur Valley, documenting the fire. I will probably stay here. I am hearing the sound of chain saws, continuing to work. I have seen smoldering spots, still close to the highway. I see the happy faces of friends, who were let back in. Everyone is feeling that we have survived the worst of it, now, even though there are still some problems in several areas. The heart of the Valley has survived, and that gives us hope.

I will start to upload today’s photos of the Valley on its own page when I get to my friend’s house, sometime this afternoon, I hope. Parts of Big Sur look the same, others look totally devastated.

StationKATE, reporting live from the Big Sur Valley (teehee, citizen journalism. KION, channel 46 is here, too, but I’m better!)

The audio is not up, yet, but you should be able to eventually hear the interview by going to this website:

http://www.kqed.org/programs/radio/forum/

Recently on Forum
Tue, Jul 8, 2008 — 9:00 AM
Big Sur
No Audio Audio currently not available for this program
As wildfires continue to threaten Big Sur, we take a look at the rich history and culture of that coastal community. We also talk with residents about the impact the fire is having on their community.
Host: Michael Krasny
Guests:
Gordon Wheeler, president and CEO of The Esalen Institute, founded in 1962 as an alternative educational center
Kirk Gafill, general manager of Nepenthe and head of the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce
Paul VanGuerwin, battalion chief for Cal Fire
Steven Harper, wilderness guide, naturalist and psychologist
Sula Nichols, a Big Sur artist whose house burned in the wildfire

Last night’s meeting notes are long, so I leave you to read them in their entirety on surfire2008.org, but the bottom line is that the mandatory evacuation order for Palo Colorado to JP Burns has been lifted, and residents will be allowed to go back home starting at 10am, but residents only. Quite a lot of hugging, tears, and celebration last night on this news. There is still much to be done, but it is a start toward the healing and rebuilding process.

I was so glad to be able to share this with my friends Debbie, Jo-Ann, and Deborah last night. We had another round of hugging, crying, and celebration here at the Carmel River Inn, where we all spent the night. I will have to drive around to get home, as there is still a mandatory closure from JP Burns to Lucia/Limekiln (depending on which report one reads) but I may try to drive down to MAF today, after 10 am, so I can see first hand the difficulties we face in rebuilding, before I head back up to Salinas, and down 101 to Fort Hunter-Liggett. I might have trouble getting back in the Fort (I have heard), if I tell the truth, so I will probably be telling the front gate that I am going to the Mission, and then head across to Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. I haven’t decided whether I will try to explain EXACTLY where I am going, and why I can get there from the front gate and my need to do so, but it might just be easier to lie.

Some great up-close and personal shots of the fire in and around Esalen on Sunday can be seen at http://www.esalen.org/home/gordon.html

Also, the story of the Apple Pie Ridge Boys was on CNN lsst night. I had a friend tape it for me, but you can watch it here:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/07/08/simon.fire.arrest.cnn

So, I have a very busy day, restocking my office, fuel, and refrigerator before heading back late this afternoon. I might not be let through the Palo Colorado closure. We’ll see, and I will report later today. If I can go in, I suspect I will cry at the devastation I will be witness to.

More late,
StationKATE