Carmel Pine Cone, September 11, 2020 (Main News)
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VolumeThe 106 No. 37 Carmelwww.carmelpinecone.com Pine ConeSeptember 11-17, 2020 T RUS T ED BY LOCALS AND LOVED BY VISI T ORS SINCE 1 9 1 5 Dolan Fire jumps road and destroys firehouse, 3 firefighters hospitalized By CHRIS COUNTS AFTER STRONG winds carried the Dolan Fire across Nacimiento-Fergusson Road in Big Sur late Monday, the blaze destroyed a United States Forest Service fire station and injured three firefighters. The winds, along with high temperatures, caused explosive growth in the fire, which reached more than 111,000 acres by Thursday, triggering evacuations as far south as the Monterey-San Luis Obispo county line and evacuation warnings as far east as the out- skirts of King City. Fifteen firefighters were on scene at the time at Na- cimiento fire station when the wildfire overwhelmed the area and forced them to take refuge in their emergency shelters because conditions were so dire. Fire official Rob Allen described the scene Tuesday at Nacimiento fire station, which the firefighters tried to save. It was located about 7 miles east of Highway 1 near the highest point along Nacimiento-Fergusson Road. “These dedicated firefighters received injuries includ- ing burns and smoke inhalation while defending the Na- cimiento Station,” Allen reported. “Nacimiento Station was destroyed. I can confirm that one injury is critical and one serious. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured firefighters, their family, friends and co-workers.” PHOTOS/(ABOVE)SCOTT HEALY VIA FACEBOOK, (RIGHT) VENTANA WILDLIFE SOCIETY Firefighters on the mend (Clockwise from above) The flames of the Dolan Fire seen Tuesday By the next day, the forest service reported that all three from Chews Ridge in Carmel Valley. Gavin Emmons, a member injured firefighters were in stable condition. By Thursday, of the Pinnacles National Park Condor Crew, retrieves a condor all had been released from the hospital. chick last week before fire reaches it, and another crew member, The story received widespread media attention and Alacia Welch, lowers the chick down the cliff. reignited a national debate about whether emergency fire shelters, which are like personal fireproof tents made from heat-resistant material, are safe enough to protect firefight- Two condor chicks killed, 9 adults still missing after search ers in extreme emergencies. The shelters have saved hun- dreds of lives since they were introduced in the 1960s, and By CHRIS COUNTS and remove the chick before the fire arrived. three firefighters from Montana also used them successful- “It was a good idea to pull the chick out because the fire ly last week. But 19 firefighters from Prescott, Ariz., were DELIVERING NEWS that brought elation and heart- did burn through a short time later,” said Sorenson. killed in 2013 despite using them. break, the Ventana Wildlife Society reported Thursday that Photos show two members of the Pinnacles National An official for a federal agency that coordinates wild- of the five condors chicks that were nesting in Big Sur Park Condor Crew, Gavin Emmons and Alacia Welch, us- land firefighting resources said such shelters are only used when the Dolan Fire erupted Aug. 18, three survived and ing ropes last week to climb up a cliff so they can reach a “for an extreme emergency.” two didn’t, executive director Kelly Sorenson of the Ven- young bird. “They’re to be used as a last resort if there’s no planned tana Wildlife Society told The Pine Cone. The nonprofit “We are also happy to report that Chick No. 1033, was escape out or safety zones become inadequate,” National has made the recovery of the California condor its chief saved from her nest, where she was in a cliff cavity direct- Interagency Fire Center spokeswoman Carrie Bilbao ex- mission. ly in the path of the advancing Dolan fire line,” the VWA plained. After the fire burned through areas where the nests are posted on social media. Because they knew the Dolan Fire could jump Na- located, the VWA feared for the safety of the chicks, and Chick No. 1033’s parents haven’t been seen since May, cimiento-Fergusson Road, fire officials started issuing its staff began visiting the charred landscape in search of the young birds. Two, including Iniko, the star of its con- See CONDORS page 15A See EXPLODES page 11A dor cam, were found alive. A third chick, meanwhile, was evacuated from a nest very shortly before fire reached it. “At least two chicks survived and another was saved, Removal of more eucalyptus set for November but the situation is still pretty devastating,” Sorenson said. By MARY SCHLEY While the fire burned through area that housed four have to listen to personal criticism not based on any facts.” nests with chicks, rescuers were able to reach a fifth nest She noted a recent Pine Cone letter writer who likened re- AFTER REQUIRING her to add two more tall trees moving the eucalyptus to “killing people,” while another to the landscaping plan for her property on San Antonio wrote that “native” is a relative term. Avenue, the forest and beach commission backed off on “No, it isn’t,” Overett said. CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS its stance that Laura Overett should be required to keep 17 She asked the commission to accept the landscape plan huge eucalyptus trees that grow on the beachfront prop- developed by Joni Janecki & Associates with input from erty, and decided she could go ahead and remove them. plant biologist Joey Canepa, who has also worked for DROP, BUT OFFICIALS Overett said cutting down the trees will probably begin in early November. See TREES page 12A AREN’T SURE WHY But at the Aug. 20 forest and beach meeting, she had to make another impassioned plea that she be allowed to cut n down the towering, 150-year-old non-native trees, which Outbreak in prisons runs counter frequently drop litter and limbs and are intensely com- to county-wide trend bustible during fires and replace them with native plants and trees. City forester Sara Davis said many of them have By KELLY NIX pests or have other problems, including tissue damage and decay, and recommended approving the plan. OFFICIAL COUNTS of new coronavirus cases were “I would truly like to know on what you base your de- unusually low for several days this week, reaching num- cisions regarding eucalyptus trees,” Overett told the com- bers not seen in months, but it’s unclear if those numbers mission, because she bases hers on facts and information are a sign of a slowdown of new infections, a glitch in data provided by arborists, biologists, foresters and landscap- reporting from the state department of public health, or ers. something else. “Is it because you like looking at these trees,” she asked, While there were three more virus-related deaths this “or is it because you want to leave this problem to the next week in Monterey County, the data seems to indicate the generation to fix, like kicking the can down the road?” number of cases is decreasing. The county health depart- ment Wednesday reported 37 cases, 32 Tuesday and 59 Wicked Witch of the West Monday. Leaving the eucalyptus would endanger the North PHOTO/KERRY BELSER Compare those relatively meager numbers to the more Dunes habitat next to her home, she pointed out, and the old trees will eventually fall anyway. But if she cuts them A eucalyptus tree starts to bite the dust during an earlier removal See VIRUS page 14A down, “then I become the Wicked Witch of the West, and I project on San Antonio Avenue. Attention readers: Don’t forget that you can have the complete Carmel Pine Cone delivered every Thursday evening to your tablet, laptop, PC or phone — with no banner ads, popups, click bait or paywalls. We also don’t harvest your data or make you create an account or password. Free subscriptions available at www.carmelpinecone.com. 2A The Carmel Pine Cone September 11, 2020 Sandy Claws By Lisa Crawford Watson validated parking Along for the ride AS THEY strolled along Scenic Road for some new fall fresh air and a glimpse of the sunset , the couple arrivals seemed unaware of the attention garnered by the adorable little face poking out of their backpack. Or soft jackets maybe they were just used to it. A cross between a baby Ewok and Verdell from sport coats the movie, “As Good as it Gets,” Charlie, like Verdell, activewear is a Brussels griffon. sweaters He and his sister Lola were adopted, very young, pants through National Brussels Griffon Rescue, and raised together by their couple, who gave them shirts their names, even though they had never heard shoes of the popular animated cartoon of British siblings, “Charlie and Lola,” from a picture-book series later adapted to television. “The naming was ironic,” said their person, “but end of so was the fact that our dogs were very much season sale TWO GIRLS BBESTEST HHouseouse like the characters. Lola was smaller, and always leaning FROM CARMEL CCleaning8 into something, and Charlie was always the quiet, ‘17, ‘1 ‘‘16,16, ‘17, ‘18 thoughtful one, like an older brother.” PETER MILLAR TRUNK SHOW • Experienced Charlie lost Lola this past March, which is still 831•625•8106 • Professional hard on his people, and he hasn’t quite gotten over CARMEL PLAZA • OCEAN AVE it either, they said. Offering a personal Way back when, the couple couldn’t agree KHAKISOFCARMEL.COM and friendly touch about a dog. She had grown up with schnauzers for 30 years. and wanted another, but he said he was allergic BONDED and didn’t want a dog that sheds.