Big Sur Fire Part 2 - the real story behind the north valley fire

This is my 3-part commentary on why the people stayed to defend their homes,and who was actually responsible for containing the fire on the north end. The map is NOT to scale and inaccurate, distance-wise, but I hope I still make the point. I made everything look closer together than it actually is on the east side. It's quite a distance from Glen Oaks to Captain Cooper School and quite a distance from the McQueens to Apple Pie and the Blaze yard and all that, as that is all further up the road. So just to be clear, they were protecting a MUCH LARGER area than what I make it look like, which makes it all even more amazing. Also, one correction: Don McQueen and Walter Trotter weren't business partners until they went in on the campground. I misspoke there. And thanks and credit to Robt. Durell of the LA Times for the pic of Micah Curtis. Sorry I don't do a very good job of getting the pics up close enough to the camera.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Big
• Sur
• fire
• fires
• California
• 2008
• 08
• break
• CA
• Calif
• wildfire
• fighters
• crews
• sheriff
• residents
• land
• Curtis
• Apple
• Pie
• Ridge
• McQueen
• Indian
• Basin
• property
• federal
• locals
• brigade
• Nepenthe
• Esalen
• immoral
• hoses
• equipment
• water
• trucks
• bulldozers
• slashing
• brush
• Part
• one
• two
• three

[SuzNews727]

Thanks, Susie.

That guy is the toughest man I know, AND he has a big heart. - Suz :)

[danpt2000]

I'd hit that. :-)

[meoddity]

this is such a great series.....i work for don and mieke here at the campground, this definately lets everyone out there know what kind of person don is .... being from illinois originally...this fire was a really confusing ordeal for all of us here in the valley .... thanks for this....

[231171]

I love this series, it is sooo informative and interesting. THANK YOU!

[stingrey57]

yeah, it sure sounds like Don McQueen's expertise and experience should have been utilized from the beginning, perhaps more homes could have been saved. Thanks again for telling this story so well.

[turbobusarail]

Many people post on a regular basis that are no where near as articulate and informative. Easy to look at? OH YEA.........More please

[susiehuertaleon]

Suz,

What a great job you did!

The real story is so real.

Enjoyed hearing the history about Don McQueen.