If you haven't been there, it's VERY rural. Much of the lands are USFS forest lands with some private parcels and properties (some leased back to the former owner), commercial logging, power and water companies also use those lands. While there are homes further up Highway 50 (staying mainly a short distance from the highway) there aren't many places in El Dorado county less rural ("When you leave the paved road..."). In short, it's the CA version of BFE. ;o) Parts of the southern high desert are similar in density (approaching zero).
However, please note outbuildings are NOT homes, that the lands are used for agriculture (animals and plants, some legal, some not) so there will be a high number of barns, sheds, detached garages as well as retirement or vacation homes. Some homes were literally hand built, some were mobile homes. [It is probable that some illegal pot farms also went up; I'm sorta hoping that the growers did too.]
It is a blessing that more homes are not gone, but to those few that are gone, the occupants lost everything in the most literal sense. Rebuilding will not be an option for some.
Expect these numbers to climb but not jump higher. The main portions of the fire came CLOSE (too close) to some subdivisions and then climbed into the 'wilderness' area (where logging, hunting and fishing have occurred for generations). You would be hard pressed to find a more rugged area in the state (the North Coast Happy Camp fire is in similar terrain, but wetter and different trees). One report (by scanner) put a spot fire today as small, slow rate of spread, 100% slope (45 degrees) and it gets MUCH steeper than that, some is sheer cliffs of granite.
Today, part of the effort in extinguishment was to close the fingers on the eastern flank (making a mitten out of a glove) in the Union Valley area. That went well but was pretty dicey at times... like when the ENTIRE air operation came to a halt (Air Attack decision) so that a medical copter had free access to haul out an injured inmate (that took about an hour). The fire didn't stop, the ground crews didn't stop but the reports are that things went pretty well. [The inmate was flown directly to a hospital, taking one firefighting copter out of service for that trip. The condition is unknown for the inmate but a 10" limb (widow maker) falling on a head is rarely good, even with a helmet.]
That flank is now kissing one of the larger lakes in the region (NOT Tahoe) where I've boated, camped, fished and hiked, smelling the pine, the cedar, watching the wildlife... This fire is truly removing my backyard and playground. I have other places to play, but none quite as close, convenient and special. It was one of the reasons I moved to this area, but now most of it is gone for yet another generation. I won't be here to see a vibrant forest there again, I don't have that much time left.
Rick, WA6NHC
Rick, WA6NHC
iPad = small keypad = typos = sorry ;-)
On Sep 24, 2014, at 10:55 PM, Pamela Alley rnrq@att.net [californiadisasters] <californiadisasters@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Holy cow, that's ALL??? (so far, at least?) That is bloody damned impressive considering the terrain, the speed, and the size....Wow.PA
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