SodaCanyonRoad | The Fire on Monticello Road

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The Fire on Monticello Road
Bill Hocker | Sep 3, 2020 on: The Hennessey Fire on Soda Canyon Road

Update 9/16/20
Lenore Wilson poem-to-the-editor: Dark Mountain

And without the ads:

Matter yearning to become spirit; white ash under the trees,

skid marks of the Lord’s breath.

So light where are you after all this --

my house in ruins, none of the past to rake, sift

none of it.

I raised my children here, young mother I was

all trial and error.

Dark mountain now and in the quiet hour

of dusk we left

slept next to the corral

in the sedan loaded with quilts,

bags of photos, memorabilia,

under the three hundred year old oak

that had watched the cattle

for a century

come and go,

and the cowboy that day of the fire

found every cow and calf

even the pair that huddled in the creek bed

as we had huddled in our seats, tried

to sleep

as the flames came nearer

and the next day that giant tree fell

right there after our departure.

Oh oil sheen black the pastures

where tar weed grew indelibly

each August, the golden cloth of it….

Raw-boned god,

you’ve traumatized your daughter--

wasn’t it enough

the friends I lost to suicide,

to cancer?

Do you listen, you there hardened

like the day moon,

twisted beauty of the madrone, the toyon,

short fuse of manzanita?


Leonore Wilson

Former Napa County Poet Laureate



Update 9/12/20
The Economist 9/12/20: Wildfires will be more common in a warming world

The Economist gives a shoutout to the fire preparedness of CIrcle Oaks (with a mention of Larry Carr and crew). Unfortunately the article is buried behind a paywall. In the Sept 12-18 2020 print edition the article is titled "Learning to live with it". (more here)

Update 9/3/20

Photo: Hardy Wilson/The Guardian
Dan Mufson forwards this article written and photographed by Hardy Wilson:

The Guardian 9/3/20: My family built our dream home in the woods. It was no match for wildfire


8/21/20 The Fire at Circle Oaks
Circle Oaks, the compact rural
community of 180 homes often at the forefront of conservation issues in the County, seems to have resisted the siege of the fire. It was very ominious, but as of the afternoon of 8/21/20 things are looking better.

The Final Caltopo map at Circle Oaks is here


Comments
Cindy Grupp - Aug 21, 2020 5:22PM

I just learned that Jim & Leonore Wilson lost their home on Monticello. The house had been in Leonore’s family for over 100 years. They are safe.


Lisa Hirayama - Aug 21, 2020 1:39PM

CO made it thru the night, but still not out of woods. Winds supposed to come up again and still lots of hot spots everywhere surrounding us. And the forecast Sun-Tues is more lightning storms and winds. We're in for it again....

Sadly, Jim and Leonore Wilson lost their house. I just talked to Jim and he's staying strong. Amazing.


Stay safe,
Lisa


Daniel Mufson - Aug 21, 2020 1:01PM

A tragic note from Leonore.

Begin forwarded message:

From: poet707@aol.com
Subject: Fire loss
Date: August 21, 2020 at 1:02:05 PM PDT

Reply-To: poet707@aol.com

Everything lost: our home, 100 YEAR OLD ranch except my mm's little house the cowboy sprayed down.

Sick here. My mom's childhood home, mine, my sons....

Thanks, Leonore p.s. We waited as long as we could, very little equipment ( we begged fire trucks to help us, but they said they had too many fires....) Pray for us please.


Lisa Hirayama - Aug 20, 2020 8:39PM

Hi Bill,

Larry stayed behind along with two other neighbor FF's, so I've got the best source ?. I just talked to him and he said we're surrounded by fire, but the fire breaks are working so far. A strike team arrived today which was a relief because this morning he told me he didn't believe any help was coming. They were sent out into the surrounding area to work the fire but they're supposed to come back if they're needed for structure protection

He said we should be fine tonight as long as the wind doesn't come up. There's no wind right now, but I dread a Vacaville scenario. Are u looking at maps and figuring CO is a goner? Or did someone say something?

I learned in 2017 that none of the maps are very accurate. People were freaking that CO was burning and it wasn't.

Keep your fingers and toes crossed for us tonight.

Lisa