Firefighter Blog

Some nice updates from the contributors at Wildland Fire. These fires are throwing up some impressive columns with multiple heads and capping evident on the merged Chalk and Goose Fires

The real shame here is the beautiful country being scarred by these fires. Anyone that has been in that country knows what I am saying. These scars last a generation.

Labels: 2009 Fire Season, Chalk Fire, Goose Fire, shu lightning complex

The Chalk Fire that has burned over 16,000 acres between the Plaskett and Eselan on the south Big Sur Coast. Smack in the path is the Camaldoli Hermitage.

The Hermitage is home to 25 monks who live peacefully on the property 1,300 feet above the ocean. The Hermitage has burned once in its 47 year history but this threat will be defended by the U.S. Forest Service and elements of the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Unlike the abandonment of Tassajara during the Basin Complex the monks at the Hermitage will have help if the fire visits the property.

The morning fire report indicates the Chalk Fire is at 16,000 acres and is close to 90% contained.

Chalk Fire commentary 6:00 AM 10/23;

The 12 and 24 hour values at risk state;

12 hours:
Lime Kiln State Park, Hermitage, Harlan Ranch, California Condors and Cultural Resources
24 hours:
Lime Kiln State Park, Hermitage, California Condors and Cultural Resources

Actions planned for next operational period:
Structure Group - Protect structures in the Hermitage and Lime Kiln State Park.

The fire growth potential is deemed moderate though the difficulty of terrain is described as extreme.
The Chalk Fire command team believes the fire will be contained by October 25.

Big Sur Kate has been on top of this fire (literally) since the fire started September 27. I have relied on her first rate coverage for fire news and local perspective.

This summer has been traumatic for those who live along the Big Sur coast. The Chalk Fire will likely be the last significant fire event of 2008 in northern California. There is a symmetry to the Big Sur fires this summer that has formed as the Hermitage braces for a potential assault.

The Tassajara Zen Center defined more or less the eastern boundary of the 160,000 + acre Basin Complex. The Buddhist monastery was saved by the heroic efforts of five Monks that stayed behind to defend their home.
The Pico Blanco Boy Scout Camp loosely defined the northern boundary of the Basin Complex and was saved by a Forest Service firefighters. The Hermitage sits just below the southern edge of the Basin Complex and will be defended by Chalk Fire firefighters. Buddhists, Catholics and Boy Scouts braced for devastation but were spared.
In total almost 300,000 acres burned in Big Sur and the surrounding Los Padres National Forest and Ventana Wilderness. Numerous homes burned and a community was tested.

Memorial Day to Halloween with fire burning almost continuously in that time.

Lastly, I did not intend to send any personal Christmas cards this year but after looking around the Hermitage website I found out they have a store with art I like. The image below is an example of what they offer. Check out their store here.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Chalk Fire, Chalk Peak Fire, Tassajara

I've covered the Chalk Fire but mostly by following the continuous updates by Kate in Big Sur on her blog.


The image above offers a look at a rare phenomenon. A low ceiling fog is hugging the Big Sur coast with smoke from the Chalk Peak Fire drifting over the fog and out to sea.

Kate's artist eye has caught this scene more than once this summer. I think her work in general is Getty quality. I also believe she could forge a legacy in digital that rival the works of some great California landscape painters.

One California landscape painter who comes to mind is Frederick Ferdinand Schafer. Some examples of Schafer's works here, here, and here.

Think I am kidding? Take a look at Kate's Flickr gallery.

Labels: Art, Big Sur, Big Sur Kate, Chalk Fire, Chalk Peak Fire

The Chalk Fire burning in the south Big Sur region has reignited. Unseasonably warm weather has stoked the once dead fire forcing area residents to wonder if the wildfire assaults on Big Sur will ever end.

Friend of Firefighter Blog Big Sur Kate lives just south of the Chalk Fire scene and captured the image below last night. Put yourself in Kate's position, fire has visited her Big Sur coast almost continuously since early June. It actually began in April with an uncharacteristically early fire on the Big Sur coast.

I defer readers to Kate's blog for Chalk Fire coverage as she is the definitive community fire blogger.

FF Blog's previous Chalk Fire posts here.

Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Big Sur, Chalk Fire