i don’t remember when I first met Blanco, but I remember one time when he came to the Jade Festival. He looked just like in the Herald photo below. He was 90 something, and in a wheelchair. He grabbed me by my arm and pulled me down to him. I thought he was going to pull me into his lap. He was surprisingly strong. He did love the ladies.

Many moons ago, there was a stand off between the USFS and the local community on Blanco’s front porch. The USFS wanted to tear down his cabin. They didn’t. Blanco was still there into his 90’s. I’ve seen the photos and heard the stories of that time. The South Coast was a wild coast. We are a bit tamer today, but we are also older today.

There is a great photo of him in today’s Herald from their archives.

while not enough to do much more than cut the dust, I did have to close a couple north-facing Windows about 3:30 am, but if my SLO weather caster is correct, it is just a harbinger of things to come … Sweet forecast:

“A 998 millibar low pressure system is forecast to move southward through the middle of California. The associated cold front is expected to produce increasing southerly winds and rain Sunday afternoon into Monday morning. At this time, rainfall amounts are expected to range between half of an inch and one inch
with greater amounts along the north coast, such as Cambria and San Simeon. A few scattered rain showers may continue into Tuesday. Otherwise, high-pressure will produce increasing northwesterly winds and clearing skies on Wednesday into next Friday.”

MCSO just released their findings that the fire was caused by a suicide. Details, other than finding the body at the point of origin, are not being released. The body has yet to be identified.

Fire report on CHP – Santa Cruz county:

Incident: 00174 Type: Report of Fire Location: Corralitos Rd / Freedom Blvd Loc Desc: NR PLEASANT VALLEY Lat/Lon: 36.963432 -121.809467
Detail Information
11:04 AM 9 [21] 30 HAS MERK/ CORAALITOS CLOSED
10:58 AM 8 [18] CDF COMMAND POST 219 MERK RD
10:56 AM 7 [17] XFER ANOTHER CALLER IN AREA OF WHITE ROAD
10:47 AM 6 [8] PER NETCOMM,FIRE IS ER TO A WILD LAND FIRE AREA OF CORRALITOS AT FREEDOM
10:46 AM 5 [6] [Appended, 10:46:57] [4] 1039 NETCOMM
10:46 AM 4 [5] [Appended, 10:46:57] [3] 24M SEES SMOKE
10:45 AM 3 [2] TOT FIRE
10:45 AM 2 [1] RP IS ON CORRALITOS ON A BIKE,CAN SEE SMOKE IN THE AREA NR A HOUSE
10:43 AM 1 [3] [Appended, 10:46:57] [1] SMOKE BTWN FREEDOM AND RIO JUST STARTING

The 7:30am report from Cal Fire: Tassajara Fire is still at 30 percent containment, 1,086 acres. I will post additional information and links as they become available, but the first thing that comes to mind is donations to Cachagua Volunteer Fire Department. I am sure thei resources have been tapped. Consider a donation. When a community fundraiser is anticipated, I will provide notice of how you can help.

Tassajara Fire Incident Information:
Last Updated: September 20, 2015 7:30 pm
Date/Time Started: September 19, 2015 3:00 pm
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE San Benito-Monterey Unit
County: Monterey County
Location: 2.5 miles north of Jamesburg
Acres Burned – Containment: 1086 acres – 30% contained
Structures Destroyed: 10 residences damaged or destroyed, numerous outbuildings
Evacuations: Mandatory Evacuations:
Tassajara Road from Carmel Valley Road to Cachagua Road
Evacuation Advisory:
Remainder of communities of Cachagua and Jamesburg

Evacuation Center:
Red Cross:
Carmel Middle School
4380 Carmel Valley Rd
Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923

Monterey County SPCA managing large animal evacuation

Injuries: 1 civilian fatality
Cause: Under Investigation
Cooperating Agencies: Cachagua FPD, USFS, Salinas FD, Red Cross, SPCA, PG&E, Monterey Co Sheriff
Total Fire Personnel: 590
Total Fire Engines: 32
Total Fire crews: 30
Total Airtankers: 5
Total Helicopters: 3
Total Dozers: 3
Long/Lat: -121.589554/36.3699644

From LPF WildCAD: resources sent to SLU mutual aid. Also, Per retired from friend heard on scanner:

---

Atascadero sending units under a mutual aid contract. Now calling this the Summit Fire.

[46] A9-004 CAL FIRE 97
1:01 PM 9 [43] A9-008 97 W/ SMALLER FIRE, CAL FIRE NEED TO RESPOND TO LARGER FIRE FIRST / 1039 CAL FIRE
12:55 PM 8 [38] [Appended, 12:58:13] [1] TOT CAL FIRE
12:55 PM 7 [29] [Appended, 12:55:53] [2] SINGED THE HAIRS ON HIS ARM // 1039 CAL FIRE
12:55 PM 6 [28] [Appended, 12:55:53] [1] ANOTHER RP STATES ITS VERY CLOSE TO HWY
12:49 PM 5 [13] 1039 S2 WILL ADV 9-4
12:49 PM 4 [16] [Appended, 12:50:17] [1] PER ANOTHER RP – FIRE IS CLOSE TO THE HWY
12:47 PM 3 [8] ANOTHER CALLER ADV THERE WERE APPROX 6 FIRES ALONG THE SR46 // CALLER DISC 1039 CAL FIRE
12:45 PM 2 [2] 1039 CAL FIRE
12:44 PM [1] BRUSH FIRE

The Carmel Valley was smoke filled pre-dawn this morning. Smoke filled the air in Carmel as well. Remote weather station MCAHC1 near Jamesburg reported winds from the east at 11 mph at 3:30 am. All other regional stations were reporting winds generally north or northwest. The image below was shot from Lover’s Point Park in Pacific Grove looking east where smoke is visible over Salinas.

All eyes on the morning briefing. We should get updated acreage, expected weather and a resource count.
Twitter link  #TassajaraFire

Cal Fire Incidents