Category: Fire Season

Insurance Questions Answered

Your Friends and Neighbors!

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A Conversation with Dave Jones
California Insurance Commissioner

At the invitation of the Carmel Valley Association, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is to appear in Carmel Valley on Oct. 16 for a discussion on local insurance issues, followed by a Q & A. Residents will have an opportunity to hear Commissioner Jones and ask him direct questions about insurance coverage and issues related to consumer protection. The event is free and open to the public.

When: Sunday, Oct. 16, 2pm – 4pm

Where: Del Mesa Carmel, Redwood Room, 500 Del Mesa Carmel

Who: California’s Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones leads the California Department of Insurance and regulates the California insurance market, the nation’s largest.

Co-hosted by the Carmel Valley Association (CVA) and the Fire Safe Council for Monterey County (FSCMC).

Season ending rains later this week?

As Paul H. Commented on yesterday’s post (please read), we have the potential of a storm with significant consequences heading this way. Here is what NOAA and the NWS had to say today:

“A more significant pattern change is expected to begin Thursday as a broad upper level trough approaches the region. This system is progged to tap into a plume of moisture over the Pacific with precipitable water values in excess of 1.5 inches. As this system approaches it will bring precipitation into northern Sonoma county Thursday afternoon and evening. While models have fallen into agreement on this there is still some disagreement with the timing and intensity of the rainfall for Friday. The Euro (ECMWF) is the more aggressive of the two models and brings rain as far south as the Monterey Bay Thursday night while the GFS keep rain changes north of the Golden Gate. The GFS appears to catch up to the Euro Friday night as it pushes the main rain band through the region. The Euro however remains the wetter of the two solutions.

Periods of moderate to locally heavy rain is anticipated Friday across the region. Heaviest precipitation is expected across the North Bay. Models indicate there will likely be a break the rain (GFS) or hit and miss showers (Euro) Saturday on the back side of the main frontal band. However a second round of showers is expected Sunday as the second boundary moves across the region. With a moist atmosphere in place the second boundary will have no trouble spreading widespread precipitation across the region. Rain is expected across the forecast area and will likely bring the season ending rains that the fires burning across the region have been waiting for.”

 

Soberanes Fire Update, 10/8/16

Yesterday, Friday, I reported on FB that the Soberanes Fire had kicked up a bit on the interior portion. I could see the smoke from my place – no column, but smoke. So today’s inciweb reports this:

“A flare up occurred yesterday on the fire near Marble Peak, but was well within the burn perimeter. Today, a Hot Shot crew will make their way through the burned area to reach the hot spot to cool it down. Smoke might be visible from nearby communities, but rest assured that this hot spot is well within the burned area.
Efforts to remove the water tender yesterday were unsuccessful, towing equipment wasn’t capable and other equipment wasn’t available. Diesel fuel was successfully extracted from the fuel tanks, and nearby brush was cut back to allow easier extraction of the vehicle. Plans are put in place to remove the water tender when equipment becomes available.
Hot spots along the North Fork Big Sur Creek, north of Ventana Cone, and east of Church Ranch are trouble spots for fire managers. These areas are not accessible to firefighters on the ground due to steep and rocky terrain. It is not likely that fire will spread out of these areas due to a lack of continuous fuel bed, cooler overnight temperatures, and higher overnight humidities. Winds could be a problem if a hot spot were to reach a containment line, fire managers will continue to monitor conditions.”

Containment is still at 98% on Day 79.

Soberanes Fire Rebirth

Gorgeous photo by my friend, Michael Troutman. Thank you for letting me “borrow” it. Time for a bit of good news and renewed hope. Life finds a way …

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These are the beginnings of the new growth of the mighty Coastal Redwoods. Ah … I can breathe again!

Celebrating Fall

I know it is fall as I keep having to get my down comforter out one day, and put away the next – imageEver changing between an Indian Summer, and a crisp fall day.

 

Soberanes Fire: The Aftermath

Via Andi Elder, I have been watching the amazing work of this group from Ohio – Christian Aid Ministry – who came out here, self-contained it appears – to help those who lost their homes clean up the rubble. I truly admire them. They exemplify the Christian ethic that others just talk about. They have gotten little recognition for what they do, probably because they don’t seek it. I’d like to offer my heart-felt thanks for what they are doing for our community. Andi … Let us know what we can do for them.

I found where you can donate to this specific fund.

Here is their website: Christian Aid Ministries Rapid Disaster Response

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The end of coverage – Soberanes Fire

Many of you are so used to waking up to Bigsurkate in your inbox with maps and commentary that you will miss it – not the fire – just the daily connection with community, and eyewitness accounts, and a place to share the horrors and the triumphs. I will, too. But … even the IMT get rotated out every 14-21 days, and I think I am on my 5th such IMT. I need to go back to center, find my balance, and not spend my life on the Internet for a while. It’s not healthy. I know you are all with me on this. I have loved what we have created here, and I am not “leaving” by any means. I still have our events, our clean up, our winter storms and road closures to cover – not to mention lost and found dogs – , but I will be finding center so I can continue to provide service to our community when needed. I can’t thank all of you enough for the experience which has been like no other … We have shown the world the best that we can be, and thus, by extension, the best that they can be.

There are many people who helped these last 71 days, but two stand out: First, Lucas Ryan who did the maps for me for several weeks when all was hot and heavy. I couldn’t have done it without his help. Second was John Chesnut who did his maps for fun every morning while he had his coffee before he ran off to work. You guys were and are amazing. Thank you, so much.

We have some important community issues we need to address – like how we prevent this from happening again – we can share our experience, others can share theirs, and we can hopefully come to some solutions which will benefit all lovers of the land – near and far – so that we can learn, and teach our children, how to be better stewards of the land we love and which gives us all that we are. We are all about sharing solutions after this remarkable experience. Join us … Blessed be.

Soberanes Fire, Day 70, 9/29/16

There is a flair up on Mt. Manuel today, which resulted in the following story and photo:

“Just a kinda funny story. I was in my kayak in pond today around 11:30am. I was tying rope to broken willow trees on the island and then to tractor to pull them out. This was some of the minor damage done from the 6 weeks of dipping during the fire. It’s been around 10 days since the last air operation here so I was surprised when all of a sudden sitting on my kayak in middle of pond I heard a helicopter. Before I knew it I got a visual of a Sikorsky heading my way. I scrambled to get out of pond and move tractor, tools, kayak, etc.

They have been dipping ever since making short trips northeast of here. I’m assuming hitting a flare up in the black?

Thanks again,

Marcus Foster
(Rancho Grande)”
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As the fire winds down, transitions to a Type 2 IMT today, is over the 90% threshold for containment, so does my coverage of this fire begin to wind down.

Here is John Chesnut’s map:

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Basic Information

Current as of September 29, 2016 at 7:19:54 AM PDT
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Illegal Campfire
Date of Origin Friday July 22nd, 2016 approx. 08:45 AM
Location Soberanes Creek, Garrapata State Park, Palo Colorado/Big Sur, & Ventana Wilderness.
Incident Commander Rocky W. Opliger, USFS, California Interagency Incident Management Team 4.
Incident Description Wildland Fire
Current Situation
Total Personnel 1,462
Size 129,395 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained 92%
Estimated Containment Date Saturday October 15th, 2016 approx. 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved
Chaparral, tall grass and timber
Significant Events
Minimal fire activity overnight due to a deep marine layer and high humidity. Interior smoke production and fire activity may be possible do
to the drought stricken fuels, even in areas that have been dormant for weeks.
Outlook
Planned Actions
The North side of the fire continues to be in patrol status.
On the East side of the fire, suppression efforts are being focused on the interior around the Church Creek drainage area, to cut off possible fire growth. Infrared is being utilized to detect heat. Air resources are also being utilized to strengthen containment and treat hot spots on the south side of the Church Creek drainage area with retardant and water drops. Crews are being inserted around the areas that need hot spotting and cold trailing.
Suppression repair plans on the east side of the fire are being implemented.
On the west side of the fire, a more direct attack tactics are being implemented. Crews are being inserted into those areas conducting hot-spotting and cold trailing operations.
A substantial suppression repair effort continues to be a high priority for resources on the west end of the fire.
Projected Incident Activity
Predicted lower temperatures and RH associated with the arrival of a deep marine layer will assist in control efforts. Fire behavior is expected to be moderated under the influence of these conditions.
Remarks
Transition to Central Coast Incident Management Team – Type II, will occur on 9/29/16 at 0800.
Projected final footprint of the fire has been reestablished. Due to the expected consumption of green islands within the interior of the fire, final projected acreage has increased. All acres are accounted for that lie with the containment lines, burned or unburned.
Current Weather
Weather Concerns
Temperatures near active fire area: 55-60 except 70 around the thermal belt.
Relative Humidity near active fire area: 15 to 20% ridges…30 to 45% valleys.
Winds near active fire area:
Valleys: becoming downslope/downvalley 3-5 mph gusts 8 mph.
Mid/Upper Slopes: NW 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 20 mph becoming SW 5-10 mph with
gusts to 15 mph overnight.
Outlook for Today:
Temperatures near active fire area: 80-90
Relative Humidity near active fire area: 11-18%
Winds near active fire area:
Valleys: Upslope/upvalley 5-10 mph gusts 15-20 mph by midday.
Mid/Upper Slopes: SW 5-10 mph gusts
UNIT INFORMATION
USFS Shield
Los Padres National Forest
U.S. Forest Service
6750 Navigator Way
Suite 150
Goleta, CA 93117
INCIDENT CONTACT
Fire Information Line
Phone: 831 204-0446
Hours: 6:00 AM -10:00 PM
RECENT ARTICLES
Soberanes Fire Daily Update for September 28
News – 21 hrs. ago
Soberanes Fire Daily Update for September 27
News – 2 days ago
Evacuation Warning for Arroyo Seco Area Lifted
Announcement – 3 days ago
Sorberanes Fire Daily Update for September 26
News – 3 days ago
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