Basin Fire memory
Posted By Firefox on March 31, 2009
As I drive the highway I can see the splashes of gold poppies and purple lupine. The fire uncovered a long hidden landscape that now rejoices in the spring sun.
California poppies thrive in fire-cleared landscape
It is strange to think that only 6 months ago I was compiling lists of landmarks and homesteads as they were overtaken by the fire: Overstrom, Boronda, Case, Hopkins, Hangover, Newell, Stone House. Then the regrettable phone calls I answered in the night, “Is it true? Did my home burn down?” asks a quavering voice. One of the oddest experiences was the night I received a page out for a fire alarm. The ridge line had mostly burned that first Sunday, and it seemed ironic that some alarm company was reporting that a smoke detector going off in a house I figured had beeen lost hours earlier. Was the house calling for help, surrounded and frightened? Of course the narrow road and fire in the canyon made it impossible to go to it’s rescue late that night. Even day’s later I was barred by burning trees laying across the debris-choked road. Later I learned that the house has survived when it’s water tanks had melted and sent thousands of gallons of water gushing over the decks and roof. A miracle perhaps, or like the flowers, just the natural course of things in Big Sur.
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