Comments by riveray
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Posted on August 25 at 11:39 a.m.
Some of the questions asked in the comment above aren't ones I can answer but in walking the trail the day after it started the brush cutting was very obvious. here is a point where the trail begins to climb up out of the canyon, crosses a small jeep road and then switches back and forth 7-8 times before it goes around a corner past the Edison tower shown in the picture and continues level for a while. Along much of the switchback section there were indications that chaparral branches had been cut recently and along much of this section the grasses had been cut. There was no indication at all of the use of any hand tools to cut the grasses. Instead they were cut off "neatly" about 4-5 inches from the ground in a way that only could have been done using a high speed blade. The grasses were scattered along the trail in the exact type of pattern that would have come from use of a high speed blade on something like a weed whacker. A lot of the cut grass was still green, meaning that it had been cut within the last few days and no longer than a week ago for sure. Are we thinking conspiracy here or some simple explanation like the one investigators believe caused the the fire, use of power tools at the wrong time and place.
Posted on August 25 at 7:27 a.m.
Oops. La Brea Fire is correct but not worded well. I originally talked with Captain Degado on August 6 and a few days later La Brea Fire started. Then we talked again early on August 25 as a followup. Thus the few weeks later that I checked in with him.
Posted on November 23 at 5:14 p.m.
Just to clarify any misunderstandings, when I received a copy of Karen's story I wanted to get it out as soon as possible because I thought the ideas contained in it were important ones. In my haste, I got it out with my name on the story rather than Karen's. That was my mistake and I take full responsibility for not being more careful when I posted it. Most important are the ideas represented in the article which is that homes can be saved if the appropriate technologies and fire safe practices are used not just by one owner but the entire community that is within the high fire areas of the front country. I think it is also important to point out that most homeowners won't be able to do what the Berrys have done but that doesn't mean that they can't fire proof their homes and manage the vegetation around their homes properly.
Posted on November 20 at 1:21 p.m.
If you'd like to read what those who posted on the Independent said regarding the initial press conference you can see the comments at: http://www.independent.com/news/2008/nov.... I have heard similar elsewhere. And yes, I do believe the Sheriff has a responsibility as the lead spokesperson regarding the cause of the fire to make sure that he get's it right the first time. The school's themselves shouldn't find themselves in the position of having to release their own press info to counter the lack of it from the Sheriff.
Posted on November 19 at 1:39 p.m.
I've not been able to respond earlier to any of the comments here but I did want to say that regarding any of the language used in the story the words were not mine but those of Sheriff Brown (young adults, ages, sexes, that they all were from one school, that those attending the party thought they had put it out. It was important to get the facts right and these were the facts provided by the Sheriff. I did make an effort to pin down which school but no one would speak on the record or off. Ray Ford
Posted on November 15 at 7:24 a.m.
Just to clarify regarding air tankers and the SB Airport, though it seems counterintuitive, it actually isn't much different in air time from SB than it is for Santa Maria. From Santa Maria the planes can reach elevation gradually as they fly form there while any plane that takes off from our airport needs to circle out to sea to gain elevation — at least 3,000'. You might not think it would take that long but the times end up being similar. There is also the issue of difference in air traffic comparing the airports and the issues of trying to merge fire and commercial/private use here as compared to Santa Maria. Finally, by separating the airspace that the helicopters are using from that of the tankers there is less of an issue for them too.
Posted on October 30 at 7:38 a.m.
Hi Gregory — my first comment, since I'm the one who did the work and own the tractor — is that there was no trail here. Because of the slide, we were forced to make a complete re-route around it for a half mile. The work on this section would have taken a minimum of 10x longer and the costs would have been prohibitive. Use of it also enables us to build erosion control features like dips that would not get done by hand, especially along sections of trail that have deep gullies. The alternative are trails that only get more damaged and harder to maintain. On the other hand, within the year, once the vegetation grows back a bit, it is almost impossible to see that the tractor has been used. I'm sorry if this offends you but the work that is being done is important.
Posted on July 9 at 2:17 p.m.
Exterior red are contingency lines that are used in developing strategic plans. These include Cathedral Oaks on the south; Old San Marcos Pass on the east, West Camino on the north and Dos Pueblos Canyon on the west. As you can see by the fire map that the fire is nearing Dos Pueblos. Each of these contingency lines have one or more "fallback" lines — for instance Highway 154 if Old San Marcos is breached. For this fire the ultimate fallback lines would be Highways 101 and 154--quite a boundary if all the interior lines failed. Note that the planning group is desperately looking for a backup ridge west of Dos Pueblos they can work towards holding the fire since Refugio isn't a good road to attempt to hold with the curves, homes, etc. I used blue for the interior to note secondary lines that are being used primarily to keep the fire from heading south towards homes or other ridges within the primary containment lines.
Posted on July 9 at 1:23 p.m.
Hi all--am trying to keep up with the map side of things but not always easy to get detailed enough info plus need to keep up with the expanding fire perimeter and things of interest outside. Just added dozer lines in anticipation of problems in the DP Cyn area which come from this AM's morning briefing.
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Posted on November 6 at 7:15 a.m.
Got the subtitle wrong. No doubt not enough coffee the morning I proofed the article. I changed it to "Instant" and not decaf.
Geez drberticus, lighten up. No room for a light-hearted article now and then? BTW, yes you can buy VIA at Costco but as of my last visit only the milder version; not the darker roast. Regardless, it is still expensive and probably more important, you still have Starbucks telling you what your cup size is.
On Starbucks Leaves a Bad Taste in a Very Needy Guy