Firetown, USA... and the new IC...

July 18, 2008 about 2 pm...

Well, I'm a bit behind the curve today, 'cause I have a real-world job that demands my time... but, I'll be heading off to the Carmel Valley Fire Information Meeting tonight, which begins at 6pm at Tularcitos School, for the latest and greatest from the IC about what's cookin' up in the Natty Forest.

The audio should be up later tonight on KUSP, for your listening pleasure.

Maybe the new IC - Ms. Jeanne Pincha-Tulley, California Interagency Incident Command Team 3 Commander, who is arriving from the Canyon Fire in Plumas County - will be introduced to Carmel Valley residents? 

Word has it that Ms. Pincha-Tulley is an excellent communicator.

A 49-year-old mother of two boys, Ms. Pincha-Tulley is Chief at the Tahoe National Forest Headquarters in Nevada City, California; and, she is the first - and only - woman incident commander of a national fire team.

Welcome to the neighborhood, Jeanne (we're all on a first-name basis 'round these parts)!

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While I wouldn't call it a political shift, ...

On the way to work today, I took a sharp turn to the right... to have a look at the little city that has grown up in another of Bob Eaton's pastures. It is, to say the least, very impressive... 

Our own Cachagua Volunteers drove by in their 1975 Classic Wildlands Fire Engine - YES, they need a new one!!!! - and we greeted each other warmly! That's OUR GANG on the job!!!

I got as far as the roadblock, which was still in effect at 9 am at Martin Road (to Piney Creek), and which has now been removed, since the Mandatory Evacuation has been downgraded to Voluntary.

Officially, here's the word:

Carmel Valley Road is open only to residents, their employees, and emergency vehicles from the intersection of Sleepy Hollow Road south to the intersection of Arroyo Seco Road. Martin Road will be open only to emergency vehicles, residents, and their employees.

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Now for some views of Firetown, USA...

As far as the eye can see, there are people everywhere!

What do you do with those smelly socks and nasty knickers after fighting fires all day and night? Well, you just take them to the laundry.  LAUNDRY????

Check it... that's an industrial strength front-loader inside that trailer, and a water tanker on the left, yellow laundry bins in front... colors on the left, whites on the right (left to their own devices, the firefighters would be wearing all one color after the first wash!).

Speaking of laundry, the K-Max has a dirty face after being on the job for a while... after they fill the K-Max, I wonder if they get a message on the pump that asks, "Do you want a car wash??"