"no matter what fate chooses to play"
Jackson Browne "For A Dancer"
Jackson Browne "For A Dancer"
Jackson Browne at Vina Robles 8/26/16
photo by Trisha Butler KSBY TV
Chimney Fire at Lake Nacimiento
There is an emotional and intimate quality to Jackson Browne performances and coming on the night Cal Fire offered good news in the face of a tough battle it was even more so.
The good news is this-the Chimney fire is 51% contained and grew very little beyond the 45 thousand acres it has claimed.
The Hearst Castle is still threatened however and 49 homes and 21 other structures have been destroyed.
Trisha Butler of KSBY TV in San Luis Obispo captured extraordinary images of the Chimney Fire.
photo by Trisha Butler
Trisha Butler
Trisha Butler
Trisha Butler
3,985 firefighters remain on the job. 325 engines, 116 hand crews, 4 air tankers and 16 helicopters continue to fight the erratic and stubborn fire including in rugged terrain.
Citizens gathered in Paso Robles for a kind of thank you parade along the route that fire crews travel as they switched shifts.
With thousands of firefighters and support personnel in the area they've made camp where they can. The image below is at the public use area of San Simeon Campground just north of Cambria.
photo by SLOSTRINGER
SLOSTRINGER has gathered incredible images of the Chimney Fire battle as you have seen in the last several posts. SLOSTRINGER has also gone the extra length to feed cats and dogs that were left by people who were forced to evacuate.
Another great photographic presence has been EPN564.
An LA Fire Captain observes as his team hand fights a part of the Chimney Fire.
Air is slightly better and for that reason too people along the central California Coast are breathing a bit easier.
Even though Hearst Castle remains threatened, it appears defensive efforts in place will hold. We are hopeful cooler and overcast conditions today and tomorrow will give the firefighters a chance to further contain the blaze, including those lobes that threaten Hearst and communities miles away on the north side of the fire.
poignant observance
Browne performs For A Dancer and dedicates it a friend who passed two days ago.
"Keep a fire burning in your eye
pay attention to the open sky.
You never know what will be coming down....
I don't know what happens when people die
Cant seem to grasp it as hard as I try
It's like a song I can hear playing right in my ear
That I can't sing..."
Browne got a rousing response when he paid tribute to the Firefighters.
The audience cheered when he said "...some people build walls and others open doors."
Browne has long been aligned with social justice and environmental causes, including in San Luis Obispo County.
Browne has long been aligned with social justice and environmental causes, including in San Luis Obispo County.
Lana and I have been fortunate to see Browne perform 6 times over the years and as Lana observed last night, "His music speaks to you. It goes directly to your heart."
And he can rock it too! Last nite's crowd at Vina Robles were chilled by a stiff breeze, carrying evidence of the Chimney fire, but they were ready for some release and the troubadour delivered.
map by Joe Tarica San Luis Obispo Tribune
"These days I seem to think a lot
About the thing that I forgot to do
And all the I had a chance to"
Jackson Browne These Days
Something I don't want to forget to do is to again thank the heroic firefighters. Also to express admiration for journalists who have done admirable work. The San Luis Obispo Tribune and The Cambrian staff, including my friend Kathe Tanner have produced excellent reporting and coverage.
KSBY and KCOY television are appreciated. SLOSTRINGER has provided extraordinary photo coverage.
See you down the trail.
