BONNY DOON ON FIRE!!!!

Current info as of this morning:

Lockheed Fire Incident Information:
Last Updated:    August 14, 2009 7:00 am      
Date/Time Started:    August 12, 2009 7:16 pm 
Administrative Unit:    CAL FIRE San Mateo - Santa Cruz Unit
County:    Santa Cruz County 
Location:    Bonny Doon area - Smith Drainage 
Acres Burned:    4,100 acres 
Containment    4,100 acres - 5% containment 
Structures Destroyed:   2 outbuildings damaged 
Threatened:    More than 250 residence are currently threatened in the Swanton and Bonny Doon communities. 
Evacuations:    Mandatory evacuations for Bonny Doon and Swanton affecting 2200-2400 people. 
Cause:    Under Investigation
Cooperating Agencies:    CAL FIRE, Santa Cruz County, Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation 
Total Fire Personnel:    676 
Engines:    120 
Fire crews:    16 
Dozers:    15 
Water tenders:    3 
Costs to date:    $ 750,000 
Major Incident Command Team:    CAL FIRE ICT #9 
Conditions:    Significant resources have been ordered for this incident.

An evacuation center has been established at the Vintage Church at Hwy 1 and Mission. A large animal evacuation center has been set up at the Watsonville fairgrounds and a small animal evacuation center has been established at 7th & Rodriguez. 
Phone Numbers     (831) 335-6717 (Lockheed Fire Information)

Here's a good map too: http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentfile361_591.pdf

Word on the mountain this morning wasn't good. We're on the edge of the fire path. Best we can hope for is predictable winds & humidity.

It's pretty smoky in downtown SC right now. All the major roads in the BD area are closed.
Laura & I are fine though, we've got our dog and our stuff, and will be staying with a friend in Capitola for a couple days. The fire made 1/4 mile canyon jumps last night, and the smoke & ash is pretty thick near the BD airport now (we live abt 1 minute up the road from the airport). Our house still has power as of 1:15pm.
Man, I'm so looking forward to a beer (or 10) this evening.
At this point we're physically safe and there's nothing more to be done, so sobriety is leaving a bit to be desired .

Man that sucks. I am praying things work out for your family, other people in the area, and the firefighters. jim

Amen Sean!




[so sobriety is leaving a bit to be desired .

At this point we're physically safe and there's nothing more to be done, so sobriety is leaving a bit to be desired .

Yep, gotta give you credit for the pos attitude! Nothing you can do now 'cept let the good folks on the fire crews do their best.

Here's to being out of harm's way & best wishes for your property. 

OK, well 3 days out in the wilderness of Santa Cruz, and now we're back on on our mountain. It's smoky but it's home. Nearest flames came about 2 miles from us in thick timber. I heard some incredible hero stories today. Nutso crazy stuff that only wildfire emergenicies could create.
A couple of odd things about our evacuation:
I'm not a total loon now, so bear with me. On Tuesday night I, who hardly ever recalls dreaming during sleep, had a nightmare that there was fire all around me. The Lockheed fire started the following evening. It made the evac desicion pretty much a no-brainer.

The other thing? My wonderful wife pulled some major favors and hooked us up with harbor parking for our two vehicles and a night's stay on a huge catamaran (harbor jobs sometimes pay off in odd ways). We're talking hot showers (not camp style either, real say 20 minute-to wash-off the-days-stress showers), full galley, widescreen tv,dvd,ipod ready stereo, and huge cushy bunks. (Also serious surf history photos). One of the coolest things? Waking up this morning, grabbing coffee & having breakfast listening to all you guys launching from the harbor to fish Eric's FW tournament on my vhf handheld. I got to here folks catching fish (31" halibut? 29" ling? 23" hali caught in the blacks kelp?). It was pretty neat. I was going to chime in, but I was not in decent shape for radio chatting. It was enough just to be "in" & listening.
I can't say enough how great NCKA is.
Thanks to you all.
-Sean

Glad to hear you guys are back at the nest Sean. One door closes and another opens. Its the way for deserving folks.

Great to hear your home Sean.. But it also sounds like you had a nice mini vacation in the harbor..

Rich

Good to hear from you Sean  Please keep us updated!

Been thinking good thoughts for you and yours Sean....

 Glad to here your back Home....


 But, That Catamaran sounds like the Zinizzle..... 

 

  Me too.  Sorry for the late response, but I am glad you weren't burnet out!  Once again, had the winds been different, that fire could have been a lot worse for a lot of people (Felton included)  Any info on how this one started yet? 

So glad to hear all is well, Sean.  Even if you had to rough it for a day or two...

Sean-

Mel and I have been thinking about you guys and we're so glad that everything worked out.

Freddie