Looking Big, but Acting Smaller

Thank you to the Indy staff. We had to evacuate and got far out of town. It feels a little helpless to be watching our town we so love burning from so far away. Thanks to the amazing, timely reporting though, we feel like we're able to keep track of things just as well as if we were there and be out of the way for the people who need to be there. You're all just awesome.

Thanks for the thorough coverage - very appreciated!

I don't think there is anything "fairly pleasant" about watching fire burning through wildlands. Spring is one of the worst times, with wildlfe reproduction in full tilt. I think of all the lives being lost and the damage to the ecosystem which will have repercussions for years to come, while I watch it burn.

There is nothing natural about this kind of fire and we must be more protective than ever over the small areas of "wilderness" we have allowed to exist. Surviving wildlife will now be more likely to be forced to interact with humans, with the high and usually fatal risks that involves. These three fires together are having a devasting impact on our wildlands.

Would love to know as soon as possible about lifting of mandatory evac zones. When will that info be available?

Does anyone know whether a "dwellings lost" list has been published for Tunnel Road yet? I am specifically interested in 1057 Tunnel Road. Thanks

DS...I think you misread what was written...or just chose to ignore the last half of that sentence..."Lots of people spent Friday night fire-watching, a fairly pleasant pastime when there aren't lives and houses on the line."

I don't think that the author meant that ANY wildland fire ever falls into that category.

You don't have to be weird, or a pyro to enjoy staring into the flames of a (contained, controlled) fire...like in a fireplace, firepit, or chiminea...while contemplating the meaning of life...maybe even with a nice glass of wine.

That's been a pleasant diversion since before the recorded history of mankind.

I think for those who lost their homes in this fire, your insenstive poll suggesting the option that it is "payment for their sins" is a bit over the top don't you think?

Thanks again, Indy, for the awesome fire coverage.

When are you guys going daily?

Thanks AndrewRice. Wattaya call this?
-- WebAdmin

They should have kept the fire out when they had it out. Yea we know "the wind", in my opinion they could have put it 'all the way' out.

No one dare criticize the authorities.

They bring in the super tanker after all hell breaks loose, they should hit these fires with everything available (and make it available) when they are first reported.
The authorities do things the way they want to regardless of the results and if one looks at the results of fires in the country, its the same.
Someone ( "stupid citizen" ) reports a fire on a super hot dry area loaded with fuel and the authorities send out an airplane, by then the fire is out of control, or the tea fire and they get a call of fire from local "crazy" lady and they ignore it.

So good to see the changes today. Changes in evac status just released. The Authorities, who are us ... :) are doing the very best they can in every way and i am very grateful to each and everyone of them. thanks heavens for the change in weather too, and to the "authorities" (divine and otherwise) in charge of that.

Any news about West Camino Cielo. It has been difficult to figure out what is going on with West Camino Cielo as the news often reports Camino Cielo and for those of us up in the mountains, it makes a difference. We have evacuated and would appreciate any news. Thank you Independent!

grass-

Your comments show a fundamental lack of understanding of how powerless humans really are when facing nature. You do not just "put out" a fire with miles of perimeter, DC-10 or no DC-10. Wednesday and Thursday represented an unfortunate confluence of fuel, heat and wind that made preventing overwhelming loss of life and property a difficult task. The authorities performed very well in this regard.

Frankly, it seems many people do not understand what the DC-10 does. It's used to establish a perimeter where there are long, flat areas that can be coated with phos-check. It also cannot apply phos-check in high winds because they disperse the fire retardant. Basically, in high winds and when the fire is in uneven terrain, a DC-10 is not very effective. Friday appeared to be the day for strategic deployment.

Perhaps there should be some criticism levied due to the Santa Maria Airport not being ready to launch fire fighting aircraft immediately. But otherwise folks are just speculating and lack any basis for criticism, particularly when it comes to strategic choices in deployment. Then again, I suppose some idiot on a message board can coordinate 1000+ outside fire personnel better than the pros!

@ grass -
I think you're under the impression that the fixed wing aircraft can stop a fire immediately, and you obviously have no concept of the terrain involved.

The bombers actually put down lines of retardant outside the perimeter of the fire, so when the fire gets to that point, it will be slowed down to allow hand crews in to create a fire break. Whereas the helicopters drop water on the hot spots to avoid potential flareups. The DC-10, or the "super tanker" as you put it, is basically doing the same thing as the C-130s, only covering a greater distance. I hope this clears some things up for you!

On that note, Thank you firefighters!

What a great job everyone is doing the media KEYT, THE NEWS SUPRESSED, THE INDEPENDANT, AND THE DAILY..THE POLICE, EMTS, AND OF COURSE THE FIREMEN, AND WOMEN..THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE..

Silkroad

Drove by 1057 Tunnel (left hand side going up house number on mailbox post, house is just back from road) this morning looked fine, lights are on so you have power as well.

Whether this is almost game over, or halftime (see next week's weather on weather.com), you have been spectacular. In answer to "What do you call this?" I call it "24/7".

More broadly, and this is for down the line, I suggest that you are exploring the model of the future for print journalism... and doing so in an exemplary fashion that others ought to be watching very closely: Weekly print stories and commentary (and all the other entertainment, travel, dining etc.) and online as need/opportunity present -- 24/7.

In other words, "Watch This Space" for what is likely to survive and thrive in 21st Century journalism.

Or, in a word, "Pulitzer"!!!