Category: Fire Season

Weather, 8/2/17

10:45 am – just got notice of 2 lightening strike wildfire starts off of 58. I will add details as I get them.  Further, Flash Flood Watch issued for parts of SLO Co. One is near Red Hill Rd. The other near Shell Creek Rd.

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING…

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* The Cuyama Valley, the San Luis Obispo County Interior Valleys,
the San Luis Obispo County Mountains, and the Santa Barbara
County Mountains.

* Through this evening

* Monsoonal moisture will bring a chance of showers and
thunderstorms to the area. Some thunderstorms may produce
intense downpours which could lead to flash flooding.

* Of particular concern for flash flooding will be locations in
and below the Whittier and Alamo burn areas.

10:15 am – I have been hearing low, distant, rumbling thunder for the last 15 mins. Hope it stays distant.

as of 3:00 AM PDT Wednesday…Radar returns overnight have indicated that showers moved from SLO County into southern Monterey County, although unlikely that we saw
measurable rainfall in our CWA. WV satellite loop clearly shows moisture streaming in from the southeast that is rotating around a strong ridge of high pressure centered over Nevada. This will lead to an increase in showers throughout the day. Latest guidance
is fairly similar from yesterday, so overall the forecast was only slightly modified. Main thinking has possible showers through Monterey and San Benito counties by later today with activity forecast to continue to move northward going into tonight and Thursday. Still looks like a slight chance for convection tomorrow for the Bay Area.

Along with the showers, isolated thunderstorms are possible as the combination of mid-level moisture and heating will put stability parameters (MUCAPE, modified total totals) to favorable levels. Fire weather concerns still a main focus as there is a potential
for any of the thunderstorms to have very little associated precipitation.

Neighbor who leaves for work at the ungodly hour of 4 am saw lightening this am, but fortunately all cloud-to-cloud strikes, no downstrikes. Completely clouded over since dawn here.

As they say in firefighting … heads on a swivel today and possibly tomorrow.

NO CAMPFIRES

IMG_1575

(Sorry for the dirty windshield, but given where and how I live, this is a regular occurrence.)

Recently, Xasauan Today posted about a day with the Ventana Wilderness Alliance cleaning up the Arroyo Seco. In it he discusses campfires.

IMG_3014

“Former Forest Service Ranger, now Ventana Wilderness Alliance Volunteer Wilderness Ranger, Steve Benoit, dismantles a fire ring. It’s hard to imagine why anyone would want a campfire in the middle of the day when it’s more than 100 degrees out, but we found people in the act of laying a fire in this ring and, in another location, an active campfire. For some people, apparently, no outdoor adventure is complete without a fire.

Steve, and his fellow VWA Volunteer Rangers are amazingly patient and effective when it comes to explaining the reasons why fires aren’t allowed to clueless visitors, but there are only so many people they can reach. Given the scope of the problem, they are, literally, voices crying in the wilderness.”

Saturday night, one of my neighbors reported to me that she saw TWO campfires after dark on the ridge. It was hot on the ridge Saturday night, so the only possible reason is the one XT postulates above…outdoor adventure. We, the locals and volunteers, are so far outnumbered by the tourists, that reaching more than a tiny fraction ourselves is unlikely.

As a result of the above, another one of my neighbors wrote to KSBW and KSBY asking that given the recent anniversary of the Soberanes Fire, would they consider doing a story on the banning of campfires in the Los Padres National Forest. I will write a few of my media contacts to see if they would be interested, as well.

This is Chelsea Belle Davey’s contribution, and I love it! It is something we ALL could do (except the few people who wash their vehicles regularly.)

IMG_3018

We have been lucky, so far, and I am praying our luck continues until the rains begin.

 

Two Fires in SLO Co.

The first is just north of the “Y” of 41 and 46 ….B3422, AA340, Tankers, Helo, Engs. 52, 3484,4686, 3472, 3469, 3470, 4684, WT50, D3442 an 3440, Questa crews 3 & 5 are all responding.

The second is on Pozo, just off of 58. I don’t have the responses, but it was as heavy as the first one.

Hopefully, both of these will be kept small and stopped fast.

Dispersed Camping on Nacimiento Rd to be banned

The paperwork has been completed to ban dispersed camping along Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. It is currently out of the district for review before it comes back for signature. We won’t know for sure how long it will be banned until the order comes back into the district. It is not in effect until signed, but it is a very good step.

Brush Fire-Gilroy, 7/23/17

9 pm – Fire ran upslope in grass, hit the ridge, burned down the east slope under oak canopy where they got retardant around the head, C106 and C406 finished it off with quick turns out of a large ranch pond. Fast work on this one. Whew.

Fire crews are responding to a brush fire south of Gilroy on Sunday afternoon. The blaze is burning off Castro Valley Road, west of Highway 101, near Gavilan College. It’s not threatening the college. It started around 4 p.m., quickly spreading to 20 acres. There’s currently no containment. At 8 pm, it is up to 150 acres and 30% containment.

IMG_2982

 

Soberanes Fire, One year later

For many of us, this date will hit us hard, some will cry, some will silently remember whether they want to or not. None of us will forget where we were and what we were doing. Many, many people sent me photographs this day, some are posted on my first blog post here and then I did a second post when the evacuation of Palo Colorado was ordered that evening with even more photographs. It is here.

From that moment on, this fire took over our lives for months, and is still affecting us today, a year later. Take a moment in your day today to think about this land we love and what she has had to endure this last year and do a ceremony or ritual or simple prayer for her healing. She is in even more need now than she was then. Keep her in your thoughts today and every day. Don’t let her be overrun. NOTHING is more important than the land that brought us all here – locals and visitors alike.

IMG_2967

That square spot is a house. Photo by Kodiak Greenwood, sent to me by Lisa Kleissner.

Unless there is another Mud Creek or Soberanes today, I am taking it off to be quiet and reflect and honor Big Sur.

Fire Restrictions, Level 3 LPNF

NEWS RELEASE
Los Padres National Forest
For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrew Madsen
Twitter: @LosPadresNF
Elevated Fire Restrictions Take Effect in Los Padres National Forest

GOLETA, CA, July 19, 2017…Due to extremely dry vegetation and an increasing fire danger, Los Padres National Forest officials announced that Level III fire restrictions will go into effect immediately. The following restrictions will be rigorously enforced until this Forest Order expires:

Wood and charcoal fires are prohibited in all areas of Los Padres National Forest except for designated Campfire Use sites; however persons with a valid California Campfire Permit are allowed to use portable stoves and lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel outside of designated Campfire Use Sites. California Campfire Permits are available for free download from the Los Padres National Forest website (http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf). You must clear all flammable material for a distance of 10 feet in all directions from your camp stove, have a shovel available, and ensure that a responsible person attends the stove at all times when it is in use.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in all areas of the National Forest unless specifically authorized by a special use permit with the Forest.

Hunting with a valid State of California hunting license during open hunting season is exempt from this restriction.

Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the national forest except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated Campfire Use Site.

Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order on roads and trails specifically designated for such use. (This restriction is in effect year-round.)

For further information regarding current conditions and safety tips, please contact your nearest Forest Service office. A list of designated Campfire Use Sites is available on the Los Padres National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf.

###

Forest Service Shield

Lee Beyer
Recreation Technician
Forest Service

Cambria Fire – Bridge Fire

At 5:00 – it is 35% contained and still only 3 acres. #BridgeIC (Final) Fire is looking good.Evacuations lifted.Main St. Still closed.@CALFIRE_SLO will remain at scene mopping up for 3 hours.

Photos below taken by Sekoya Sleeth, an 8th grade student at Pacific Valley School.

IMG_7951

IMG_7947

This photo was taken by Joan Schleicher at about 2:30 pm from Santa Rosa Creek Road:

IMG_1468

3:20 calling it 3 acres, 20% contained, forward progress stopped. Will stay on site throughout the evening.

IMG_2971

Tribune Article Link

2:30 pm – think they held this one to 3 acres. Will keep following.

“From Cal Fire SLO (5 minutes ago): @CALFIRE_SLO #BridgeIC (update)fire is 3 Acres with fire fighters making progress. Evacuations have taken place for Main and Bridge Street.”

2 pm – A vegetation fire broke out in Cambria near Bridge St. and Main St. Currently, evacuations are in process. Currently about an acre. Will post more when I know more.

Fire near Parkfield – Park Fire, Garza Branch II

7 pm – 900 acres.

3:30 pm – 250-300 acres about to enter into Monterrey County. They have designated this the Garza, Branch II fire, for now. Oops, back to Park until the new team takes over the Garza.

IMG_2968

It is on the Fresno side. They are pulling resources off the Garza Fire and sending them to this one. “Per IC 75 Ares Still Dangerous Rate Of Spread.” Fire will be moving into Monterey County. Also will impact structures in parkfeild proper. 4319 heading into parkfeild proper to set up for structure defense.