Category: Fire Season

Wildfires/Medical Aid

1:30 pm – I love our neighborhood and my neighbors. I haven’t been watching LPNF WildCAD, but a neighbor has. He called me (thank you, very much) to ask me to look out my window to Prewitt to see what was going on and if I could see smoke. I couldn’t. Abandoned campfires are now called in as Wildfires. I would have remained blissfully unaware, being deep into a book to avoid this heat, so thank you, sir. You know who you are. I will continue to pay attention, and if there is any change, I will post it here.

BTW, I count on all my neighbors and friends to let me know about these kinds of things. I am only one person – who doesn’t do heat well, so needs all the help I can get!
This is WildCAD, LPNF:

06/30/2013 12:56 LPF-1931 (New) Medical Aid PREWITT RDG & CG M . BC12LPF E16LPF 4X4 E17LPF PAT19ALPF . . .
06/30/2013 12:39 LPF-1930 (New) Medical Aid Pine Canyon Sta . E43LPF . . .
06/30/2013 12:21 LPF-1929 (New) Wildfire PREWITT RDG & CG M . . . . .
06/30/2013 12:18 LPF-1927 (New) Wildfire Nac/ferg cyn . . . . .

Structure Fire in Cambria & Wildfire SE of King City

See update from the Cambrian in the comments below.
(Blue Whale Inn and not attic, as originally thought. But utility closet)

A fire in the attic of the Cambria Inn on Moonstone Beach was contained by Cal Fire in the last hour (3:30 pm).

A wildfire off 198 SE Of King City was attacked at the same time with SLO sending two engines and a dozer as well as air attack to assist Monterey County. As of 3:30 pm, Forward rate has stopped at 80 acres 60% contained.

With these soaring temps being so widespread, fires are bound to be a problem on the Cental Coast and elsewhere in the state.

Heat Wave

Much of the state and the southwest is on alert for an extensive heat wave through the weekend and early next week. In the mountains of Big Sur, we are expecting 105-110 degrees. I went to Cambria today, for Farmer’s Market and heat relief. Monday I’ll be going to the vet in Morro Bay to get Gideon his summer haircut. Saturday and Sunday, I’ll be busy taking cold showers every 1/2 hour.

The weekend is the Nac music festival where it will be over 100 each day. There is a large pond for swimming, and I imagine it will get lots of use.

Okay, I’ll be back in a few days, after I’ve melted.

What kind of idiot …

… Leaves an illegal campfire in the middle of the wilderness unattended? These surfer dudes and/or dudettes. Campfires have been prohibited for WEEKS!

On my way home Thursday night June 20, I found an unattended fire with flames about a foot high in an undeveloped campsite. Tents, chairs, ice chests, truck, surfboards, skateboards, campfire, but no people. I was fit to be tied. Pulled in, honked, got out, yelled, no one. I went into their ice chest, grabbed handfuls of ice and dumped it on the fire. Found a 16 oz water bottle, dumped that on the fire, found a baking sheet, used that as a makeshift shovel, and covered the fire with dirt. Flames out, but still smoking. Got to cell phone signal, called USFS PV Station. (Closed, but I have a home phone number) told them, and they promised to go up and make sure it was completely out. The campers had a big stack of firewood back behind a log, hidden from view. I grabbed piece after piece and threw it over the edge. Only got about a quarter of it. I felt like throwing it at their tent to be honest. Also felt like using the skateboards as shovels, rather than the baking sheet. I do not suffer fools gladly.

This is what I saw

20130621-122559.jpg

This is a Volkswagon truck, which I had never heard of, at least that is what the tailgate said

20130622-094847.jpg

Wild land Fire Training at Ft Hunter Liggett

From the Salinas Californian:

Monterey County firefighters will participate June 17, 19 and 21 at Fort Hunter Liggett to learn how to fight wildland fires – and at the same time help the Fort Hunter Liggett Fire Department with control burns.

The Monterey County Fire Training Officers Association, in conjunction with the Fort Hunter Liggett Fire Department, will host this year’s wildland firefighting training exercises for local fire agencies.

The training exercises are expected to draw more than 100 firefighters from several fire agencies in Monterey County.

The Monterey County Fire Training Officers Association offers the training exercises at no cost to local fire agencies.

Branch Fire, SLO Co.

8:00 pm – 300-400 acres

7:00 pm – 150 acres

6:15 pm – update from A/A 07…..25 to 30 rapid rate of spread in grass an brush heading south….Forest service is sending equipment in also

6:00 pm – There is a new start at Branch Mountain Rd and Highway 58. It is 10-20 acres with the potential to go large. These resources are on their way …B3415, A/A 07, T 74, E43, 4694, 3460, 3476, 3466, 3472, med engine 40, D 3442, WT 43, Cuesta 1,2, an 3. Also heard a request for two more tankers.

Meanwhile, the Powerhouse Fire in So Cal near Lake Hughes just icecapped. That means there was a blow-up, in heavy brush. Icecapping is quite a sight, and once you’ve seen it, you will never forget. I have seen it up here. Major evacuations going on there. This fire started yesterday, but got a major push due to heat, low humidity and winds.

Here is what ice capping looks like. See that white cloud-like fluff?

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FIRE on Fort Hunter Liggett NOT a controlled burn

Update 5/31 – fire was contained late last night at 2200 acres. Started by a training exercise with live ammunition.

Update- ” A wild land fire that began around 4 p.m. is burning in Fort Hunter Liggett training areas south of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road and west of Jolon Road. More than 30 firefighters and a dozen vehicles from our fire department, CalFire and the U.S. Forest Service have the 2,500 acre fire about 15-20 percent contained. Nacimiento-Fergusson is open as of 6:30 p.m. but be prepared for possible delays. Updates as information changes.”

Fire is clearly showing up on the 11-3.9 micron satellite with a strong heat signal as of 10:10 pm scan. Nothing on Modis yet.
Here is link to FHL RAWS: http://raws.wrh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/rom…FHLC1&time=GMT

According to my source, the fire at FHL is NOT a controlled burn. It was started by some troops out on Haycamp Rd. And it headed up to the San Miguelito Loop. An unnamed Capt. There at FHL Fire said “They are taking out the loop.” My source interpreted this to mean that they would probably do a backfire to cut off the main fire. Will be interesting to see where we are on this in the am.

Smoke, FHL

9:00 update- from my wonderful retired Fire Capt. source “hey Kate ….just got off the horn with the station….GI’s started a fire on Haycamp rd and it is now up to the san miguelito loop an the capt. talked too, he got called in on OT…. said they are takng the loop out so that’s probably where all the smokes coming from Kate…they’re probably doing a backfire to cut the main fire off I bet……”

There is a lot of smoke over FHL coming this way. It could be part of the controlled burn I warned about. Unless I hear differently, or see flames after dark, I am going with control burn. Otherwise,I’ll let you know.

Fire. At SR 1 and shooting range in SLO Co.

@CALFIRE_SLO: Firefighters at scene a 15 acre wildland fire on Hwy 1 at the shooting range.

I see that shooting range all the time, so probably north of Morro Bay, but can’t remember.

Fire, Highway One and Harmony Ranch Rd.

I tried to update this earlier. Fire contained. Very suspicious, being investigated.

From one of my sources:

Hey Kate …just heard a dispatch for a fire….harmony ranch rd an hwy 1….large explosion an fire in veg…..B3411, T74 90 an 80, eng 14, 3483, 4151, 3484, 3480, 3141, D3440 an 3442, WT 43, Cuesta crews 1 an 3