Good, and I mean GOOD Morning Everyone,
It is with the greatest sense of relief that I write to tell you that we are almost ALMOST in the CLEAR up here!! I woke up at about 5am to wind and at that time the fire was making a pretty good run up Rector Canyon way down by Stagecoach, which in my mind was a good thing because it is just taking fuel out of the Canyon. No structures were or are threatened. I went out to the Derns at 630 and the crew wasnt even out of their truck because it was so calm and quiet out there.
We added a new crew member to Team Protect Rural this morning - Jessica Schreuder (call sign/designator "Xena Princess Warrior"). Xena, the Bandit, Dennis the Menace, and I started at Bill's Place and drowned out two stumps that were smoldering. We didnt need to do it, but out of an abundance of caution and for peace of mind, we just took care of them.
After that, we ran into the new on site Battalion Chief, Garrett, and he explained that they are putting a LOT of resources up here today to GET. THIS. FIRE. OUT. The only remaining fire in the whole area is out by Stagecoach in the canyon below 3201. They have at least 10 engines (with another 4 at Antica awaiting assignment), bulldozers, multiple hand crews, and 6 helicopters. THIS IS GREAT NEWS!!!!! They are cutting and bulldozing lines to try and achieve full containment around what is left. I am VERY optimistic that they will achieve that very soon, perhaps even by the end of today or tomorrow (that is their goal per Garrett anyway).
After talking to Garrett, Xena and I went on a big tour of Foss Valley - all the way up behind the Shepps, Manfrees, and Perris and everything is "black" and "cold," which is FANTASTIC. We then met up with Doug Christian, who took us to check the lines out by the Choppings pond and again, everything looked great - black and cold. (Note: the fire did not appear to get very close to the pond, perhaps 200 yds away).
We then went up to Antica and watched the helicopters make numerous pulls from the big reservoir - what a glorious sight! I took the attached picture and think it is time for Glenn Salva to add "Helicoptering" to the sign ;) (Note: you can see how clear and beautiful it is up here this morning in the pictures; first time we've been able to see Haystack all week! In fact, aside from the helicopters, fire crews, water tankers, showering and eating at Evil Knievel's, bunking out with the Bandit in my parents' room, walking around with a smoke mask on, feeding the fireman and neighbors, not recognizing my unshaven face in the mirror, and my pants and clothes that are covered in black charcoal, it almost feels normal up here!)
We then talked to an Arizona strike team at Antica who asked about the adverse impacts on the wine, and per Glenn Salva's astute comment from the other day, we simply explained this would be a "smokey vintage." After they chuckled, they responded that a smokey vintage is better than the skunky smells that permeated the air when they were fighting fires up in Mendocino...They said their lunches would be all gone by 10am and they were still hungry, weird...
On our way back to Evil Knievel's, we saw tree trimming crews working just after the Atlas Peak sign, which is another good sign because they are working to get the road clear. It is my understanding that they are not letting anyone up SCR, including residents, until they get this fire out, but again I am optimistic that this will be sooner than later (hopefully in the next 2-3 days??).
Alright, that is enough for now. As you can tell, I am feeling very chipper this morning and with good reason. We are still not completely out of the woods, as smoldering piles could always flare up, but everyone up here is working to get everything out.
Plan for this evening is to make a boatload of Gyros for the crews this evening and keep these boys well fed!
Over and out,
Smokey
It is with the greatest sense of relief that I write to tell you that we are almost ALMOST in the CLEAR up here!! I woke up at about 5am to wind and at that time the fire was making a pretty good run up Rector Canyon way down by Stagecoach, which in my mind was a good thing because it is just taking fuel out of the Canyon. No structures were or are threatened. I went out to the Derns at 630 and the crew wasnt even out of their truck because it was so calm and quiet out there.
We added a new crew member to Team Protect Rural this morning - Jessica Schreuder (call sign/designator "Xena Princess Warrior"). Xena, the Bandit, Dennis the Menace, and I started at Bill's Place and drowned out two stumps that were smoldering. We didnt need to do it, but out of an abundance of caution and for peace of mind, we just took care of them.
After that, we ran into the new on site Battalion Chief, Garrett, and he explained that they are putting a LOT of resources up here today to GET. THIS. FIRE. OUT. The only remaining fire in the whole area is out by Stagecoach in the canyon below 3201. They have at least 10 engines (with another 4 at Antica awaiting assignment), bulldozers, multiple hand crews, and 6 helicopters. THIS IS GREAT NEWS!!!!! They are cutting and bulldozing lines to try and achieve full containment around what is left. I am VERY optimistic that they will achieve that very soon, perhaps even by the end of today or tomorrow (that is their goal per Garrett anyway).
After talking to Garrett, Xena and I went on a big tour of Foss Valley - all the way up behind the Shepps, Manfrees, and Perris and everything is "black" and "cold," which is FANTASTIC. We then met up with Doug Christian, who took us to check the lines out by the Choppings pond and again, everything looked great - black and cold. (Note: the fire did not appear to get very close to the pond, perhaps 200 yds away).
We then went up to Antica and watched the helicopters make numerous pulls from the big reservoir - what a glorious sight! I took the attached picture and think it is time for Glenn Salva to add "Helicoptering" to the sign ;) (Note: you can see how clear and beautiful it is up here this morning in the pictures; first time we've been able to see Haystack all week! In fact, aside from the helicopters, fire crews, water tankers, showering and eating at Evil Knievel's, bunking out with the Bandit in my parents' room, walking around with a smoke mask on, feeding the fireman and neighbors, not recognizing my unshaven face in the mirror, and my pants and clothes that are covered in black charcoal, it almost feels normal up here!)
We then talked to an Arizona strike team at Antica who asked about the adverse impacts on the wine, and per Glenn Salva's astute comment from the other day, we simply explained this would be a "smokey vintage." After they chuckled, they responded that a smokey vintage is better than the skunky smells that permeated the air when they were fighting fires up in Mendocino...They said their lunches would be all gone by 10am and they were still hungry, weird...
On our way back to Evil Knievel's, we saw tree trimming crews working just after the Atlas Peak sign, which is another good sign because they are working to get the road clear. It is my understanding that they are not letting anyone up SCR, including residents, until they get this fire out, but again I am optimistic that this will be sooner than later (hopefully in the next 2-3 days??).
Alright, that is enough for now. As you can tell, I am feeling very chipper this morning and with good reason. We are still not completely out of the woods, as smoldering piles could always flare up, but everyone up here is working to get everything out.
Plan for this evening is to make a boatload of Gyros for the crews this evening and keep these boys well fed!
Over and out,
Smokey
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