I witnessed first hand the attitude of the cops in Big Sur during this fire, vs. the last one, and I know it came from the top down. Scott Miller defeated the last despot, and I worked to elect Sheriff Miller in any way I could, and was so happy to see that my trust was well-placed. He even follows my blog, and greets me at public meetings. While the deputies did their jobs, and tried to keep people both safe and out of the way of emergency vehicles, they all (that I encountered anyway) did so with compassion and understanding. sheriff Miller kept the road open, and neighbors connected. It was such a different experience – a welcome experience.

The Herald did an excellent article on this difference. I quote some of it below.

“Monterey County sheriff’s officials say they have taken a “180-degree turn” in their response to the Pfeiffer Ridge Fire in Big Sur compared to the area’s Basin Complex Fire in 2008.

“We hope that almost everything is different — a philosophical change,” Sheriff Scott Miller said.

Cmdr. Bill Kaye, who is usually posted at the Monterey substation, has been in Big Sur every day since the fire started, accompanied by Sgt. Joe Moses. Miller said “double or triple” the usual number of deputies are working in the area.

But part of the “philosophical change” means a different way of dealing with homeowners who choose not to evacuate, the sheriff said.

“For people who stayed in place, we don’t condone that.

But we are trying to be supportive,” Miller said.
As in the 2008 Basin Complex Fire, some residents are “trying to do their own fire protection activities,” he said.

“There are people who have never left the area. Some are trying to preserve their property or their friends’ property,” he said. “We’re not arresting anyone who isn’t leaving. It doesn’t resolve any problems.”

For the full article go here: Hersld Article

Here is a sample photo:

By David Royal, Herald photographer. More available at site.