Source: Roy Glauthier, SBNFCC President
Summary of the Meeting Content
Greetings –
A community meeting was held on the Line Fire yesterday afternoon. A video of this meeting can be found on the Watch Duty app. The summary that I came away with is that heat and smoke may continue for a few more days from two problem areas but that the incident commanders feel confident that the fire can be held within the current containment lines. With wildfire, of course, anything can happen, but my impression was that the chiefs are feeling positive about present conditions.
One interesting piece of information that did come out was that Hwy 330 will likely be closed from Highland to Running Springs until mid-December. Among other work, 4.8 miles of guard rail must be replaced before the road can reopen.
Just after 4pm, however, Sonny Rivera sent out an email to 14 cabin representatives stating that “At this time…(the Forest Service is) not entertaining allowing any recreation residence owners into the closure area for any reason.” He continued that cabin owner access will be discussed this coming week with the incoming incident management team, but the next several weeks will see extensive suppression repair activities with large amounts of equipment, service vehicles and personnel and they need to be able to work with as little interference as possible.
This is tremendously disappointing when it appeared that permission was close except for the residence tracts in the Santa Ana River drainage, these being Seven Oaks, Stetson Creek, Round Cienega, Barton Flats, South Fork and Lost Creek/Fish Creek. These tracts are still covered by an evacuation order in addition to the Forest Closure. Efforts will be made to open a dialog with Forest management to reinforce the need for cabin access as soon as possible to complete preparations for the coming winter. It’s hard to be patient after more than a month, but we have little choice. Any news will be passed along via email and FB.
Roy