Vente MODIS latte, please....

(click to enlarge)

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July 26, 2008 about 8:15 am....

Lot's of smoke this morning, but not a lot of crew traffic up to Chews Ridge...

Cachagua Fire was BUSY yesterday, using their own home-made "TerryTorch:

"Cachagua's Torch 77 crew, composed of Skee Stanley, Terry Bishop, Tim Koster, Cassidy Johnson, and Dane Bonsper successfully "created some heat" with Terry's new TerraTorch that he built. It uses gasoline and a gelling agent to create the perfect flame-thrower. Using the torch, our crew moved along the dozer line so efficiently that air operations asked us to slow down, so we stopped and waited for the helicopters to catch up. Thanks to the US Forest Service, Cal Fire and cooperating agencies, all fire crews on the lines were always safe. The operation ran smoothly. It was nice to see the system working so well. 100 ft. flames danced and swirled as they slowly, and then more rapidly, moved down the ridge away from our community.

TerraTorch 77 a.k.a. Terry'Torch 77 was a stunning success. It created fire instantly and a heat draw that drew in the fire below, created later by the amazing helitorches. It was like an air-show and ballet combined, well maybe not... "...

...following Thursday's burn, there is no fuel load to support a fire of any kind on the "black" side of the dozer lines. "Lower" and "Upper" Cachagua are now relatively safe from this fire."

Jim's comments reflect what appear on the "Information Map" (next post) for yesterday... the "island" that Jeanne has been talking about is clearly seen in the Info Map and in the Operations Map as well... that little - well, not so little - viral area around Carmel River.

Off in a minit to interview JP-T for the morning update... see you soon!

"Just four hotspots overnight, all in the vicinity of Miller Mountain. Could be burnouts; could be wild fire."

As of 7:00 this morning (just updated), InciWeb says the plans for the day are: “Fire personnel will continue with mop up and patrol in the areas of Paloma Creek, Miller and River Canyons. Crews will progress with burnout operations around the communities of Arroyo Seco, Tanbark and South of the Los Padres Dam will continue as needed to improve perimeter line and mop up 300’. The Southern perimeter will be patrolled by air. Continue rehab for the East Basin and Indians Fire.“