08/27/2020
Updates from Tuesday up on the mountain:
Rumors about getting arrested, unable to make it up, and people in need. We were able to get in and were able to roam the mountain to deliver goods to Deerhaven, Bonny Doon Airport, Bonny Doon Road, Towehee, Quail, Pineridge and Pine Flat. We were stopped by 4 police up near Summit Lane on Empire Grade and the Alameda cops chatted with us while they ran our ID’s. They were kind and chatty and let us on our way. They didn’t seem to see an issue with us delivering gear to our family and neighbors. Also, it is noted there was just one arrest yesterday so be careful what you hear— make sure it is in fact legitimate.
The mountain is still incredibly smokey and I saw very few people wearing respirators or N95 masks. The crews at Deer Haven and the Airport are very organized, they have food, equipment, water, pet food, fuel and tools. We have been getting organized. Connecting with all the mountain folk, “Dooners”, has been the highlight. I feel a direct kinship with everyone I come across, regardless of if I have ever met them before. Stopping by anyone we see asking what they need. It makes my day to be able to helpful.
The daily tasks and work obligations, plus COVID, I can’t even wrap my head around the new ‘normal.’ My days now consist of checking the Facebook Group “A little Slice of Heaven”, a hundred times a day, texting, and instant messaging what people need, how I can help, questions about insurance, FEMA, trying to find people clothes, and trying to figure out what is needed in Bonny Doon. This is my normal. We coordinate our strategies between my immediate crew, and we have started calling it ‘Bonny Doon Angels’ as it really seems like it is an act of God that let’s us past the barricade each time. Between that and prayer, somehow we are let on through. Beau (my husband) has gone up with me a number of times and now tries to work to continue some sort of income for us while I try and coordinate efforts around relief. We both have gone up to the mountain multiple times and each time it sinks in a bit more that our life is forever changed.
We were able to jerry-rig our well pump and start getting filling our gas tanks after the firefighters emptied them trying to save our house. We had success. On our way back at 10 pm we did one more last check on our property, only to find two orange glows between the brush and behind the water tanks at our neighbors. Trying not to panic, I jet out of the driveway and up to Pineridge to share with CalFire what we had found. Groggy, they begrudgingly agree to come with me. Following me down the road to our address they show up, hop out of the truck to investigate. “Well you did good, we will need to call in a second truck. Thank you for coming to get us, this is what we are here for.” The fire continued to spread behind the water tanks and toward my neighbor’s garage, then moved quickly climbing a tree. After about an hour, they put it out while a few fire fighters walked down to my property to put out the blaze there. Our property burned last Thursday and Friday and we thought it was done and we were in the clear and it was taken care of. Spot fires are continuing to pop up and will continue. It shows me the houses are not yet safe and we need to continue to monitor diligently.
We have been lucky that our house is still standing but we don’t know when we will be going back, or the smoke damage that has occurred. There is a high level of uncertainty for everyone as we start to navigate insurance and hear the nightmares of people not being able to get compensated for their loss. Not to mention personal family stuff, with my grandmother deciding to transition out of this plane. It is all a lot, and still as a Phoenix we will rise.
We have organized the drop locations, we have organized the escorts in past the barricade. We have helped to deliver supplies, check pets, and now organizing the rebuild. We have created the Bonny Doon Fire Relief fund for more long term relief for those who have lost their homes. We also have organized a breakfast meeting tomorrow at at 10 AM for those who need help with insurance and have questions. We are working to coordinate with our government representative Ryan Coonerty so that we can get some answers, as this is all very uncertain. Today we go on the mountain again.
