Tom Merkel leaves his cabin for the last time as federal authorities discuss logistics of the demolition

Published on Oct. 22, 2009

Tom Merkel (sitting) gets condolence and help moving items removed from the his home by neighbors

Published on Oct. 22, 2009

Friends help Tom Merkel move some of the property allowed to be removed from the seized home

Published on Oct. 22, 2009

Tom Merkel pleads with the driver of the skip loader not to tear down his home.

Published on Oct. 22, 2009

Tom Merkel, who has been under an eviction order for more than a year, is advised to let the dozer do its job

Published on Oct. 22, 2009

Friends and neighbors document the situation while Tom tries to arrange for the some cars to towed

Published on Oct. 22, 2009

As the dozer tears the buildings down, the Los Padres National Forest Service firefighters, on hand as a precaution, hose down the demolition area to keep the dust at bay causing a rainbow from the rubble

Published on Oct. 22, 2009

A scared cat tried hiding on the roof during the demolition until a fire fighter's hose rained the idea that the building was no longer a safe place

Published on Oct. 22, 2009

A view of the skip loader tearing down the home among the oak trees

Published on Oct. 22, 2009

Tom Merkel with friends, neighbors, and law enforcement watch the demolition from across the street

Published on Oct. 22, 2009

Within an hour most of the structures on the property are demolished

Published on Oct. 22, 2009