There was a great article on our Big Sur Fire Department in yesterday’s SF Chronicle. It discusses the challenges of dwindling numbers of volunteers, lack of affordable housing, huge coverage area, and increasing numbers of tourists. It is well worth your time to read. While they are not mentioned in the article, the Mid Coast Volunteer Fire Brigade in Palo Colorado Canyon, where the Colorado fire started, faces the same issues as the Bis Sur Fire.
“It was just after 5 p.m. on a Friday when Rafael Garcia, a bartender at Big Sur River Inn, was about to start his shift.
Then suddenly, his pager went off.
Garcia, a volunteer with Big Sur Fire, dropped everything, geared up and within minutes was picked up in the middle of Highway 1 and headed straight for the Colorado Fire, a blaze that started Jan. 21 when a winter burn pile that wasn’t completely extinguished spread to more than 650 acres, causing dramatic flames to rise above Bixby Bridge, the evacuation of 50 homes and closure of a stretch of Highway 1 for five days.
The conflagration was most notable for the time of year that it happened. In Garcia’s 11 years since becoming certified as a volunteer firefighter in Big Sur, he said he’s never before seen a wildfire take hold in January.”
I know I have been missing in action since the Jade Fire (my second in two weeks), but Voices of Monterey Bay’s founding editor, Joe Livernois, asked me to do a story on these winter fires and the role of climate change, a rather research intensive subject. I have loved doing it. I learned so much.
In doing my research, I went through some of the other articles I wrote for Voices on wildfire ( I cannot believe this new one is my 7th), and ran across one that seems so appropriate to repeat here, in light of the last few weeks. This is one I wrote in August of 2019 about a fire I barely remember.
“This fire was blessedly short, unlike the ones I cut my teeth on, so on Day Five of the Mill Fire I was able to post this on my blog:
“This will be the last day I provide updates on this fire, unless there is a drastic change. One of my neighbors stopped by and said, ‘They get an A+ on the way they handled this fire.’ Yes, they do. There are so many to thank for what they did, but I was not ‘on the line,’ so I may not know the whole story, but it seems to me, the ICs (Incident Commanders) on this fire for the first 3 days deserve a lot of credit. They are the ones making the decisions, putting in the request for resources, and leading the effort. There were 2 ICs for the Mill Fire for those first critical 3 days — Tony Zavalla was the day IC and the night IC was Pete Harris of the USFS Nacimiento Station. Tony & Pete, you both did a terrific job.”
Besides Tony and Pete, we had the most cooperative agreement I have seen in my 30 years down here — USFS, Big Sur Fire, Fort Hunter Liggett, and Cal Fire working in coordinated effort, like a well-oiled (and trained) machine. While good weather played no small part (no wind, fuels still moist), it is the professional men and women who put everything on the line each fire and each season that make the difference along with the dedicated volunteer professionals who worked side-by-side with them.
There are some lessons to be learned and shared from the Mill fire of 2019, and I hope they are. Working together there is nothing we can’t accomplish. Team Big Sur — I salute you and tip my hat to your long hard hours of training and perseverance, and for caring so much.
No one person can patrol all of Big Sur every night, but if we all chip in and do what we can, instead of waiting for some government agency to handle it, we can make a difference. Other neighborhoods have “neighborhood watches,” and we can establish neighborhood fire watches. Set up a meeting in your portion of Big Sur and set up fire patrols. Remember, polite and respectful works wonders with the uninformed. Feeling empowered and feeling safe is a wonderful feeling.
This is our home. No one cares as much as we do, and no one takes care of it like we do. Let’s band together and take care of the problem. Education and knowledge are the answer. Educate in every contact you have with our visitors in a respectful manner. You will get the message across better if people listen and hear you, and they won’t listen if they are not being respected and honored. We got this, Big Sur.”
05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:
Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers
Phone:
(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TEMPORARY SIGNALS ACTIVATED ON HIGHWAY 1
AT LITTLE SUR RIVER BRIDGE
MONTEREYCOUNTY – Temporary traffic signals have been activated on Highway 1 just south of the Little Sur River Bridge (PM 55.8), as part of a planned construction project to build a retaining wall, restore the roadway, and install erosion control measures.
These temporary traffic signals will operate 24/7 and travelers may expect this one-way traffic control to result in delays of up to 10 minutes.
Weather permitting, this construction project is scheduled to last until the end of March 2022.
Message and directional signs will be in place and travelers are advised to give themselves extra time when travelling through the area.
For traffic updates on other state highways in Monterey County, travelers may contact Caltrans Distr
[35] [Notification] [CHP]-PER STATE PARKS, FIRE ADVSD THEM THE RED JEEP IS NO LONGER A SUSP OR POI IN THIS FIRE [Shared]
Rhea Withrow just sent me this. It is in an eucalyptus grove that near Jade Cove. Fortunately the winds are calm today and PV Station is just down the street. Rhea called it in.
Detail Information
8:54 AM
9
[24] 1039 27-N11
8:53 AM
8
[22] PER N11 JSO BIXBY BRIDGE WILL ADV ON AIR
8:48 AM
7
[20] N1 INQ W/ FIRE POSS MODEL ON JEEP
8:46 AM
6
[18] 1039 27-N11 , COPIES WILL BOL FROM GARRAPATA BRIDGE
8:37 AM
5
[12] [Appended, 08:38:41] [5] TRANS TO LOS PADRES FIRE
8:36 AM
4
[9] [Appended, 08:38:41] [2] TRANS TO LOS PADRES FIRE
8:36 AM
3
[8] [Appended, 08:38:41] [1] RP SEES A FIRE IN A GROVE OF TREES
8:30 AM
2
[5] 1039 MONTCOM W/ INFO
8:22 AM
1
[1] BIG SUR / FIRE AT THE EUCULPTYS AREA AT PLASKETT CAMPGROUND
UPDATE: Found dog owner and returning “Purdy” to owners. Thank you for posting the information. Jesse.
This dog was turned over to me today around 11am. A young couple traveling through area stated dog was running on highway just north of JP burns. I’m headed to properties nearby to ask residents however could you make a post to see if we can find the owner. I will have her for a few hours before I transport to our animal shelter in salinas. There is no collar on her. I will not be in cell phone range but they can call our non emergency number (831)755-5111 so that my dispatcher can get a hold of me over the radio. Thank you Jesse.
No increase in acreage, now up to 80% contained, I am checking out on this fire so this will be my last blog on it. I am glad to have it over. No injuries, only one structure lost, but we learned fire season is all year long. How about each neighborhood go in together to buy a chipper?
