Official news is lacking this morning...

July 11, 2008, about 8:00 am...

This morning we woke up to clearer skies, cooler breezes and the return of the bluejays conducting their own air assault on the cat food, and of course, our cat, Snackybutt.

There's not much in the way of official news... the Inciweb website, when it's working, has shows a new release that's now more than 48 hours old.

The view from may favorite picture spot, looking toward Uncle Sam and Elephant mountains. The fire seems to have moved toward Poinciana Ridge (about 6:30pm, yesterday).

Closer to the action, we took this photo from a turnout area after the entrance to Sky Ranch at the top of Cachagua Grade. The acitivity appears to be on the southwest side of Poinciana Ridge (about 8:30pm yesterday).

Yesterday afternoon and last night, things got interesting.  We heard the rumor, from some neighbors while we were watching the fire backfiring operations toward Ponciana Ridge near Sky Ranch, that the fire, driven by the change in wind, had come through Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. 

Indeed, it had.  Check Sitting with Fire for updates on damage assessment.

(picture from Laureles Grade over Carmel Valley, about 6:15pm 7/10)

KUSP's Steve Laufer, the Web and New Media staffer who has been responsible for the incredibly-informative and regularly-updated KUSP Fire Information Webpages, he was able to verify the following information:

"According to Dana Velden at the San Francisco Zen Center, the fire passed through through the Tassajara Zen Center Thursday afternoon. The handful of people who had remained to defend the Center were unharmed. It was also reported that the majority of buildings were saved, but there were some losses of several smaller structures."

The fire is currently moving toward Arroya Seco.

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Back at the Helispot, in Eaton's pasture, another type of chopper has shown up, as of this morning.

This one is a Boeing 234 Chinook Combi helicopter, and here are the specifications:

Maximum Gross Weight: 51,000 pounds

Maximum Hook Weight (precision work): 26,000 pounds

Range: (30 minute reserve): 240 nautical miles

Engines: 2 Lycoming AL-5512 Turbines; 4,355 shaft-horsepower max each

Fuel Capacity: 1,000 gallons

Fuel Consumption: 400 gallons per hour

Cruise Speed: 120 knots per hour

Passengers: 19

The business end of the Chinook 234, with its 3,000 gallon Bambi Bucket at the ready.

Columbia Helicopters, of Aurora Oregon, run this aircraft, two more of similar type and a Boeing Vertol 107-II.