South Coast by Dan Danbom
Tag: South Coast
The South Coast, the wild coast, NOT Lonely
What a great time we had … Celebrating life, beauty, and this incredible place where we live. It doesn’t get any better than this … Drumming, flute, music, ocean, creek, and great friends … Oh, and wonderful food!
The music ..
And, of course, the Jade!
And Guy’s famous BBQ
We will let you know when we have another, but it could be a while, as we are now focused on the Jade Festival coming up next month. We would love our north coast brethren and Cambria partners to join us!
No one died party
For the last year or so, there hasn’t been a South Coast for-no-reason party. There always seem to be get togethers to celebrate the life of one of our members who has gone on to the next adventure, and there have been a lot lately. Now, Guy decided we needed a “no one died” party. So, that is what we are doing … This Saturday – BYOB, a dish to share, DRUMS (please?) and join us for the afternoon. Write me at kwnovoa@mac.com, or call me at 831-818-8026 if you haven’t gotten the word thru the grapevine and need or want additional information.
Shall we celebrate the lives of those of us who are still here? And another summer successfully concluded? I’m ready!
A primer in Criminal Procedure
I thought it might be helpful to explain the process for this next week.
There are two dates set for the accused. The first, on May 16th at 10 am, is called the preliminary hearing calendar call. This is the opportunity for all the parties to meet and make sure they are ready to proceed to preliminary hearing. The defense attorneys will be making sure that they have all the discovery – police reports, etc. to which they are entitled. They will either be telling the court whether they will be ready to proceed on Friday, or be asking for additional time to prepare. The Deputy District Attorney will be sharing any supplemental reports they have received from the various agencies and letting the court know if their witnesses will be available, and whether they will be ready to proceed. This is typically also the time when initial plea bargaining discussion occur.
A Preliminary Hearing has become rather pro forma. Because these are felony charges, the DA must simply establish whether there is probable cause to believe a crime or crimes have been committed and that these defendants probably committed them. It is a very low standard that has little to do with guilt or innocence. Since the passage of Prop 115 (I think is the number), the state no longer has to put on many of the actual witnesses. The investigating officer is allowed to relate to the court what these witnesses told him, and presumably what they will testify to. It will be the first opportunity the public has to hear what facts the state has. Generally, the defense puts on little testimony, and certainly, none of the defendants will be put on the stand at this point. They can, but most attorneys will not let that happen. There is no advantage to it. There may be one defense witness, we will see, and I will be there to report. It is possible, but unlikely, that if the evidence presented is considerably less than what is charged, then bail might be reduced. I think it is unlikely that there will be a reduction, considering what the DA said about the witness.
I hope this short primer is helpful to understand what may happen next week.
Smoke Smells ??
I got a call this morning indicating a number of people in various areas down here on the South Coast were smelling smoke, most of whom are under the inversion layer. So, I investigated.
From up here, above the fog, there is SOME smoke drift from the north, I’m guessing still from the Lockheed Fire, which has grown, but is over 75% contained. The inversion layer appears to be quite high, but I cannot tell how thick it is. I can only guess that the smoke is “stuck” under the inversion layer. I see no plumes, no indication of any fresh fires.
LPNF WildCAD reported a wildfire yesterday morning at Jolon Rd. and MPRC (not sure what that is), that has been confirmed, but it was controlled yesterday, and is providing little additional smoke today.
I will keep a watchful eye, although a Farmer’s Market may beckon me …
Ponderosa Fire, 8/2/09
8:30 pm – reports are that Ponderosa has reached 500 acres. Sam Jones is 600 and moving north across containment lines. Here is a last look at the Ponderosa fire tonight. This photo is not as spectacular as the plumes from earlier, but what it shows is fire in an east west Canyon, moving in both directions. This canyon is north of the McKern Rd. firebreak, which I drove on today. It is wide, and it is clear, so it would be hard for the fire to cross that. And if this canyon fire does move west, as it appears, it will run into the footprint of the Chalk Fire.
You can see the smoke all the way down the canyon, behind the trees and the bushes. It actually goes even further west, but that is not visible in the photograph. This is shot looking north north-east, so west would be off the left side.
News release just came in at 2:56 pm. See USFS page to the right for the entire missive.
2:00 pm update:Jim Smith’s Type II Incident team will be in command. You can find information about the team here: http://ccimt7.imtcenter.net/main/index.aspx
Spoke with District Ranger Tune and the press release is being prepared. At this point they are calling it 200 plus. She said when the team comes in at 1700 (Smith’s Type II IT) then it is her understanding that the Ponderosa will be put up on inciweb. I would imagine that might not happen until tomorrow morning.
WildlandFire posted this: “Per Southops: Ponderosa CA-LPF-2563, The fire has burned 250 acres with a potential to triple in size. Ponderosa and Nacimiento Campgrounds have been evacuated. The Nacimiento-Ferguson Road has been closed. Smith’s Type II Incident Management Team has been assigned to the fire.”
More photos from late this morning to follow here:
This was was taken at 11:04 am, and clearly shows the McKern Rd. firebreak.
These people snuck through before the signs were posted on Highway One, but were turned around. This is the intersection of South Coast Ridge Rd. and Nacimiento.
This photograph shows the burn from the Chalk Fire, with the Madrone regrowth and the Ponderosa Fire in the background.
You tired of these plumes, yet? I have a couple more showing the progression of the north flank, then I am finished until this evening, when I will go shoot some more photos.
Here’s the last one this afternoon, showing the progression of the north flank.
When I know more, I will post more.
1:30 pm. These photos were taken starting at 10:50 am from various places along South Coast Ridge Rd. This first one is from 10:50 am from about 1/2 mile south of Plaskett intersection.
I took a series of shots in 2 minutes from this spot, and it is interesting to watch the progression. I’ll post 4 here.
And now, a short break in the photo show, so that I might bring some information to my readers in the 2:00 pm update above.
12:30 pm. Just got back from my field trip. Photos and more photos up shortly. Impressive plumes. Fire south of N-F Rd., and north of the McKern Rd/firebreak. Lots of air attack. 3-4 miles, maybe 5, from me. Spotters up on South Coast Ridge Rd just north of McKern. N-F Rd. closed. Sheriff on top. Locals can go west. Now, to sort and post some photos.