Cachagua Community Fire Meeting tonight...

July 16, 2008 about 10 pm...

I arrived back home from the Cachagua Community Fire Information Meeting tonight and immediately started post-producing (editing out the noise, and raising the volume, so that people can hear low vol questions clearly) the audio. 

You can listen to it right here, on KUSP.

The meeting tonight was quite informative and very encouraging. Buck Silva, Operations Chief for the Incident, said that they'd had a really good day, and that if things continued going well, residents might see the Mandatory Evacuation Notice lifted on the Jamesburg section of Tassajara Road within 24-48 hours (but, not so on the Martin Rd. - Hastings section of Carmel Valley Road).

In fact, the whole doggone thing was going well on every front. The IC, who showed up en masse, seemed happy... so happy, in fact, that the Sheriff's Department representative, once again stated that when a Mandatory Evacuation is declared, no one is allowed back in under any circumstances, period, end of story, fee-nee, listo.

And the damned Cachagua Fire people had no business helping the people who stayed behind rather than evacuating. He didn't exactly say it that way, but in any case he expressed his stance in no uncertain terms (which of course, reinforced our deep love for our own Volunteers!).

There'll be a new IC team coming to replace the team that Jerry McGowan has been leading. The should be in town soon and there'll be about a five-day overlap so that the new team is fully briefed and oriented. The new IC - Jery's replacement - is female, by the way.

Shortly after the meeting started, and unbeknownst to all in attendance, including the UC representatives, the backfiring operation had begun to look rather scary.

When I arrived home, I received quite a few emails and pics from others who were observing the dramatic conditions, and who had become concerned.

From Eric Walters, comes a fairly routine, all's going to plan, picture of the backburn...

This picture was taken at about 6:40 pm. Things appear happy, as the fire sets nicely at the dozer line, with the wind backing it down the slope, as intended.

Then at about 6:45 pm the fire breaches the dozer line to the north.

Schuuuuuuuuuullllllltzzzzz!!!!!!

That honking great Boeing Chinook with the 3,000 gallon Bambi bucket steps in and drops a load of retardant in an attempt at smackdown...

and then runs home to get 'smore (S'mores... remember S'mores??? where are they when you want them??)...

And returns with a friend to help out...

This is a shot taken by a neighbor, from Lambert Flats toward the backburn, after the fire breached the dozer line.

As he said, "Pretty, and yet..."

And, finally, one from Hastings Reserve of the night sky over Anastasia Ridge. 

Eric remarks, "must be pretty big flames to be able to see it from here -- at night."

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Latest word from up on Lambert Flats...

July 17, 2008, about 1 am...

... just a glow now.