Good evening everyone,
I am pleased to report that upper SCR is in even better shape now than it was this morning. In fact, I just spoke with the leader of the Reno Crew (grayback/hand crew), Mike, and he said they are "putting the nail in the coffin" on this part of the Atlas Fire.
Around 2pm, the damage assessment team came by our house (they are literally going house by house, structure by structure to assess any and all damage to every property affected by this entire fire) and I was absolutely flabbergasted to learn that not a single structure was lost on any property accessed by the dirt road. We were the very last house assessed on the dirt road and according to this two person team, the only damage, if you can even call it that, was the two partially charred deck boards at Bill's Place. I truly cannot understand how that is possible with how hard this fire was raging all week long. The crews were absolutely phenomenal, as was Doug Christian, who almost single handedly saved the Shepp's house on Tuesday night. I am filled with grief and sorrow for all those who have lost their homes and even lives to this devastating fire, but am simultaneously overcome with joy for all of those whose homes were saved under such difficult conditions - a bright beacon of hope in a time of dark despair.
At 4pm, the Bandit and I returned the Perri's 4x4 that had broken down when we were trying to save what we could from around their house on Wednesday, and took a moment to snap the attached pic from the Shepp's house. An absolutely beautiful Foss Valley day during a difficult week; it was surreal to be bouncing around up here in an otherwise perfect day with helicopters, air tankers, and fire crews in every direction. From the Shepp's we went to the Dern's because there was a small smoke column and found a few very small flames coming up from the canyon. We alerted the BC Garrett (who it turns out is the new Napa Fire Marshall - very very nice young man, who demonstrated incredible heroics on Sunday night (he was one of the first responders up here), and who I think is quickly beginning to understand the dangers of SCR...), who sent crews to the Dern's to extinguish the flare up.
The Bandit, Dennis the Menace, Xena, and Evil Knievel started working on the Gyro feed for the troops, while I made a quick trip to Bill's Place to make sure there was no smoldering piles around. Just as I was driving in, a helicopter was making a wide turn to drop the last load of water for the day in between Bill's and the Dern's. I hurried to try and snap what would have been an incredible picture as the sun was setting, but missed it by about six seconds. Perhaps it was a sign that this fire wants to finally leave us in peace? Whatever the case, I sincerely hope that was the last water helicopter dropping water in the canyon for a long, long, long, LONG time.
Back at Evil Knievel's, the Team had quite the assembly line going for Gyros. We churned out about 60, wrapped them in tin foil and then handed them out on the road as the Hotshot Crew, Engines, and Tankers made their way down the mountain. Unbeknownst to us, the Reno Crew is spending the night out on Soda Canyon Ranch, and about 30 minutes after the last truck rolled down the hill, the Reno Crew team leader came looking for us to see if there were anymore Gyros (apparently word of warm food travels fast amongst these guys...). Fortunately, we still had plenty to go around for both them and the engine team that is also spending the night up here.
After a bit of a celebratory feast with our team (plus Doug!), we are all going to sleep very well tonight. You should too.
Signing off,
Smokey
I am pleased to report that upper SCR is in even better shape now than it was this morning. In fact, I just spoke with the leader of the Reno Crew (grayback/hand crew), Mike, and he said they are "putting the nail in the coffin" on this part of the Atlas Fire.
Around 2pm, the damage assessment team came by our house (they are literally going house by house, structure by structure to assess any and all damage to every property affected by this entire fire) and I was absolutely flabbergasted to learn that not a single structure was lost on any property accessed by the dirt road. We were the very last house assessed on the dirt road and according to this two person team, the only damage, if you can even call it that, was the two partially charred deck boards at Bill's Place. I truly cannot understand how that is possible with how hard this fire was raging all week long. The crews were absolutely phenomenal, as was Doug Christian, who almost single handedly saved the Shepp's house on Tuesday night. I am filled with grief and sorrow for all those who have lost their homes and even lives to this devastating fire, but am simultaneously overcome with joy for all of those whose homes were saved under such difficult conditions - a bright beacon of hope in a time of dark despair.
At 4pm, the Bandit and I returned the Perri's 4x4 that had broken down when we were trying to save what we could from around their house on Wednesday, and took a moment to snap the attached pic from the Shepp's house. An absolutely beautiful Foss Valley day during a difficult week; it was surreal to be bouncing around up here in an otherwise perfect day with helicopters, air tankers, and fire crews in every direction. From the Shepp's we went to the Dern's because there was a small smoke column and found a few very small flames coming up from the canyon. We alerted the BC Garrett (who it turns out is the new Napa Fire Marshall - very very nice young man, who demonstrated incredible heroics on Sunday night (he was one of the first responders up here), and who I think is quickly beginning to understand the dangers of SCR...), who sent crews to the Dern's to extinguish the flare up.
The Bandit, Dennis the Menace, Xena, and Evil Knievel started working on the Gyro feed for the troops, while I made a quick trip to Bill's Place to make sure there was no smoldering piles around. Just as I was driving in, a helicopter was making a wide turn to drop the last load of water for the day in between Bill's and the Dern's. I hurried to try and snap what would have been an incredible picture as the sun was setting, but missed it by about six seconds. Perhaps it was a sign that this fire wants to finally leave us in peace? Whatever the case, I sincerely hope that was the last water helicopter dropping water in the canyon for a long, long, long, LONG time.
Back at Evil Knievel's, the Team had quite the assembly line going for Gyros. We churned out about 60, wrapped them in tin foil and then handed them out on the road as the Hotshot Crew, Engines, and Tankers made their way down the mountain. Unbeknownst to us, the Reno Crew is spending the night out on Soda Canyon Ranch, and about 30 minutes after the last truck rolled down the hill, the Reno Crew team leader came looking for us to see if there were anymore Gyros (apparently word of warm food travels fast amongst these guys...). Fortunately, we still had plenty to go around for both them and the engine team that is also spending the night up here.
After a bit of a celebratory feast with our team (plus Doug!), we are all going to sleep very well tonight. You should too.
Signing off,
Smokey
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