LPNF Fire Restrictions lowered

Fire Restrictions Lowered on Los Padres National Forest

GOLETA, CA, March 14, 2014…Recent rainfall across Los Padres National Forest has brought some minor relief to fire danger. Officials have decided to reduce fire restrictions on the forest effective immediately. The green-up of grasses will help by temporarily reducing potential for new fire starts. However, due to the extreme drought conditions, wildfire potential still exists. Larger vegetation such as brush and trees remain critically dry.

Under the reduced fire restrictions, campfires and charcoal barbeques will be allowed in all areas of Los Padres National Forest. A California Campfire Permit, available free of charge on the Forest’s website, is required to build a campfire outside of a designated Campfire Use Site. A list of Campfire Use Sites and information about how to acquire a campfire permit is available at all Los Padres National Forest offices.

Visitors who construct wood or charcoal fires outside of designated Campfire Use Sites also must clear all flammable material for a minimum of five feet in all directions; have a shovel available for preparing and extinguishing the fire; have a responsible person in attendance at all times; and extinguish the fire with water, using the “drown, stir and feel” method. Prohibitions on smoking and target shooting in Los Padres National Forest are also being lifted.

Forest officials stressed that fire restrictions will again go into effect in May barring significant rainfall over the next two months.

The following fire restrictions will remain in effect:
· Spark arresters are required on all off-highway vehicles, chainsaws, and other internal combustion engines and equipment;
· A permit is required for all welding, grinding, cutting, or use of explosives;
· Tracer ammunition is prohibited at all times;
· Fireworks are prohibited in Los Padres National Forest at all times and in all places.

Visitors are encouraged to “Know Before You Go,” and call the local ranger station for more information on conditions and restrictions. Please remember to do your part in preventing wildfires.

Vehicle Fire near Bixby on Old Coast Rd.

7:45 – first reported around 7 am, not too many deatails, yet, but apparently it is into the vegetation. CHP says no vegetation:

7:24 AM 10 [18] VEH FIRE ONLY – NO VEG INVOLVED [Shared]

Jesse’s Celebration of Life

Paolo did a great job of getting invites out to almost everyone, but if you missed it, it will be held Saturday, March 22 at 11 at Pacific Valley School, across from Sand Dollar. Bring stories, being music, and being your best Jesse smiles to share.

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Red Flag Warning for SLO & others

This blog post disappeared and I have tried to re-upload the NWS graphic to no avail. Already have a post ready for tomorrow am, so will probably let this one go. Sorry, folks, but sh** happens and technology sometimes has a mind of it’s own.

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Okay then. I FINALLY got it up and look how much of the state is under a red flag warning!

Commercial shoot on March 20th may impact Highway One traffic

This is from The mid-coast fire brigade, but could impact the rest of us, if one is going to town north that day.

On March 20, 2014 a commercial shoot will take place at the Grimes Ranch @ Highway 1 and Palo Colorado from 7am to 7pm.

Although everything should take place in the grass field please leave early and give yourself time as they may block the road for short periods. The commercial shoot will include the “Bixby Bridge” with CHP potentially closing the road for undetermined times. If you are headed South (or North for the rest of us)….please be aware and plan accordingly.
—
Cheryl Goetz
Fire Chief
Mid Coast Fire Brigade
831-625-8175

Oceans Frontiers – 2

Hi all,

Here is a flyer about our upcoming free public showing of a beautiful movie about the Sea, next week at Pacific Valley School, in conjunction with our Parent Teacher Organization’s “Family Night”. You are invited!

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The “Personality One” by Don Harlan, or How Elephant’s Trunk Got its Name – Introduction

Don Harlan is the original road warrior. He worked Highway One for many, many years. He was the Supervisor at Willow Springs when Rock Knocker first came to work there in 1980. Don was part of the Lucia Loge Harlan’s and grew up and was schooled down here. He had many road stories, dating back to the 30s, when he watched the north and southern portions connect.

In 1971 he wrote an article which is passed on to the Supervisors (foremen in Don’s time) who work this section of the Highway. Greg DeAlba, the current supervisor shared this with me, and I think it would make an interesting serial for this blog. In it, Don describes the various trouble spots and how they came to be named. There is nothing PC about this piece, but it is a delight to read, both for the historical value and for Don’s writing style. He was one of a kind. Long after he retired, he showed up to Rock Knocker’s and my wedding in his hard hat. He never left home without it.

On Mondays, absent an emergency fire, flood, or road closure, I will be offering a segment of this piece, as it is 11 pages, single spaced. I am taking photographs of each portion, rather than re-typing it so that it is entirely true to the man Don was – and I can’t mess it up! Look for part 1 next Monday.

USFS – LPNF Volunteer Opportunity

NEWS RELEASE

Los Padres National Forest
For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759
Twitter: @LosPadresNF

Volunteers Wanted for Los Padres Preservation Project

GOLETA, CA, March 5, 2014….Los Padres National Forest officials today announced the Monterey Ranger District is seeking volunteers to work in an exciting archaeology program. Applications are being accepted for “Partners in Preservation” site stewards. The deadline for submitting your application is March 17.

To qualify as a “Partners in Preservation” volunteer, applicants are required to complete a 2-day training workshop. The next workshop will be held Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6. Training will take place April 5 at the Monterey Ranger District office in King City, followed by training in the field April 6.

This training is sponsored by the Ventana Wilderness Alliance and will be led by the Society for California Archaeology through its California Archaeological Site Stewardship Program with the assistance of Los Padres National Forest staff.

Additional volunteer opportunities on the Monterey Ranger District are available on an individual basis.

For additional information on the “Partners in Preservation” program or for other archaeology volunteer opportunities, contact North Zone Archaeologist Bob Strickland by phone at (831) 385-5434, extension 20771, or by email at rnstrickland@fs.fed.us.

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South Coast Fuel Reduction Project

SOUTH COAST COMMUNITY FUEL HAZARD REDUCTION PROJECT

POST GRANT PUBLIC MEETING

COMMUNITY CENTER AT PACIFIC VALLEY SCHOOL– SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 1:00PM-3:00PM

Dear Big Sur Friends and Neighbors:

December’s Pfeiffer Ridge fire has reminded us again how devastating a wildfire can be in the wild land-urban interface in which we all live. Two years ago the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade applied for and was granted, through the Monterey Fire Safe Council a US Forest Service grant of $178,000. This money was used to create defensible space along strategic roadways, driveways, on ridge tops and along slopes in order to reduce future fire danger and make your homes more accessible to fire equipment and personnel in the event of a fire. We have completed the fuel reduction work associated with this grant. As a result, the roads and private properties benefitting from this project are now safer.

This grant was made possible by matching in-kind contributions from the following:

The Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade, the New Camaldoli Hermitage, Lucia Lodge,​Treebones Resort, Gorda,​Big Sur Unified School District, Kate Novoa, Betty Withrow and Cal fire

I would also like to thank Dick Ravich who advised us every step of the way on our grant. Jonathan Pangburn our Forester who obtained the necessary permits and wrote all the prescriptions for the ground work. Pam Peck, who managed our finances and stepped in to help with many of the grant management efforts. And last but not least: Tom Nason of Ventana Engineering our contractor for the project who did a spectacular job for us.

As part of this grant, a public meeting will be held at the Community Center at Pacific Valley School on March 15th to highlight the execution of the grant and what follows in each neighborhood. There will be some presentations and discussions on the grant work; maintenance of the work performed; creating defensible space and what you can do to protect yourself. There will be refreshments served and educational pamphlets for you to take home. We encourage everyone who could be affected by our next wildfire to attend.

Looking forward to seeing you on the 15th,

Sincerely, John Handy

Board Member, Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade