The Park Fire continues to march north and east, and prayers and good thoughts are coming in large numbers for Mill Creek, Mineral, Morgan Springs, Childs Meadow, and the west side of Highway 89 through Lassen Volcanic National Park. Everything looked pretty good this morning (Friday), so we’re hoping for the best. If the fire continues on its current path, it will eventually run into the burn scar of the Dixie Fire. Checkmate.
My fellow Mantonians are home and safe, but the same cannot be said for our neighbors in Paynes Creek, Lyman Springs, Campbellville and Cohasset. Some homes are saved, others destroyed – but no one has lost their lives. One reason to be thankful: The 2018 Camp Fire killed 85 people. They were unable to leave the town because of limited access roads. It took refugees 4 hours to drive the 12 miles from Paradise to Chico while the roadsides were ablaze. More on that later.
All evacuees are experiencing stress and hardship, and some still need help. Calling 211 or visiting 211.org is a good way to find out what help is available. When we get through this crisis, it will be time to reflect on what worked and what didn’t. Some are already pointing fingers, but I feel only gratitude.
Thank you. To the 6,000 firefighters who came to fight this monster. Remember – humans can’t put out fires of this magnitude. The weather does. Firefighters and volunteers are very good at what they do, but they can’t save every home.
Marion Roksvold, Bob Cords and our Manton Volunteer Fire Department were indispensable. Their extensive, first-hand knowledge of the terrain allowed CalFire and other teams to plan their attacks and defenses. Bob kept the town informed, even though he barely got any sleep. Our heroes.
Judy Ramos and Michelle Heino, the administrators of our Manton Facebook group, have done a great job of spreading information and managing to maintain relative peace during a time of great stress and uncertainty.
Third District County Executive Pati Nolen was evacuated to a garage on Bend Street with her many rescue dogs, but worked tirelessly behind the scenes. On Thursday morning, for example, she received the preliminary damage assessment needed for a FEMA declaration so people without insurance can get help to rebuild or relocate. She called our state representative, our senator and our congressman. All support the declaration and are urging the governor to get President Biden to sign it. Bribing him with ice cream might work.
Sheriff Dave Kain was our knight in shining armor. He is the director of emergency services and is responsible for coordinating all aspects of this disaster, including securing funding. One can only imagine what he had to do, but despite everything he had to do, he arranged for us all to come home for short visits to feed and water the animals. There is a poster of the sheriff in Donny One Ball’s donkey apartment.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the many angels who watch over Manton. People who have taken this place into their hearts and won’t let it go even as they leave for more heavenly realms. In particular, the angel of Battle Creek – Sharon Paquin-Gilmore. Sharon founded the Battle Creek Watershed Conservancy decades ago and her passion for this unique watershed was infectious and lives on as her legacy in today’s group. The fact that the winds shifted and the fire blew back on the South Fork of Battle Creek is, in my opinion, more than a coincidence.
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This week’s Supervisors’ agenda items made for interesting conversation. The board voted 3-2 (boys versus girls, as usual) against discussing forming an ad hoc budget committee, since the final adopted budget is expected in a month or two. Second District Supervisor Candy Carlson reminded the board that it is her duty and privilege to put the board’s priorities into the structure of the budget, rather than rubber-stamping department requests. John Leach was unsure of what he was voting on, and moments later, so was Bill Moule, also octogenarian. Oy vey.
Then, out of the blue, Carlson announced that she would no longer discuss items in closed session that were not on the agenda. Um… what? The Supervisors discuss items in closed session that are not on the agenda?
As we have accused them of doing for years? The very thing that the Trinity County Grand Jury criticized their (and our) County Councilwoman Margaret Long for allowing/aiding it?
The Brown Act specifically states that the closed session is only for the purpose of protecting employee privacy, litigation, or real estate proceedings. That’s all. While Supervisor Nolen was busy with fire matters, the process for evaluating department heads was apparently discussed in closed session without her knowledge and was not on any agenda.
Carlson passed out a paper to the other supervisors. I don’t know what it said, but I assume it was Carlson’s input on what was being discussed. Nolen was obviously angry that she had been passed over in such an important process. She exclaimed, “What the hell am I looking at?” It is now being discussed publicly, as it should have been all along.
A quick word on a new hot topic: gate-gate. Cottonwood resident Bill Poland, after years of trying more conventional means, has removed without a permit a large old metal gate that was blocking a dirt road that leads from Farquhar Road across Cottonwood Creek to Farquhar on the other side.
County Supervisor-elect Rob Burroughs helped by moving logs and chain-link fencing. The neighbors who installed the gate don’t like people partying in the creek bed with ATVs. Understandably.
Poland wants the road to be accessible to firefighters (and boats). Also understandable. The county has abandoned the road and no longer maintains it. Not understandable. Who owns it and what is being done? Fire evacuation plans need to be created for each community, with as much access as possible. Rancho Tehama and Lake California are a paradise just waiting to become a reality.
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