MOUNTAIN RESIDENTS GO INTO RECOVERY MODE

It’s been a week since the residents of Palomar Mountain were allowed to return home—and most of them have homes because of the work of firefighters, many of whom were members of their volunteer fire department.
Outside resources on the mountain began to be downsized on Sunday morning. Many of them had been in San Diego county more than two weeks.
Fire suppression continued against the fire in the Agua Tibia area (north west Palomar Mountain). This is tough, grinding work, a “hand to hand” battle in the words of fire chief George Lucia, an area where brush is thick, often impassable and very flammable.
Nevertheless, firefighters continued to draw a ring around the fire that they anticipated closing soon. As of Sunday the fire was 95% contained.
While they were waiting for the fire to be contained, residents on the mountain were subjected to a little tender loving care—comparatively speaking.
They were invited to come by for free breakfasts, lunches and dinners to the Red Cross center that was being maintained by volunteers, the most conspicuous being the members of DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team), who include retired and current members of the FDNY (Fire Dept. of New York (see separate story, this issue).
These crusty, friendly folks, just brimming with character and Naw Yawkish good humor, were supplemented by pastors from Calvary Chapel Relief, who brought their own large kitchen on wheels to fix firefighters coming off the lines and residents home cooked, hearty meals.
The center offered all sorts of supplies that newly returned residents might need, including meals that heat themselves, drinks, snacks, underwear, towels and toiletries.
On Wednesday night San Diego Gas & Electric, conceding that it wouldn’t be able to get cables and poles in place for many days, brought up a large generator and installed it on State Park Road.
The generator is a V-16 diesel about 4000 cubic inches in size and puts out 18 volts. It is housed in a 40 foot semi trailer and uses 135 gallons of diesel an hour.
Telephone service continued to be spotty on some parts of the mountain.
SDG&E is busy trying to get electricity to residents along Hwy 76 who don’t have it.
Firefighters continued to patrol the residential areas of the mountain 24/7 looking for hot spots to put out.
According to a ranger at the State Park, about half of it was burned and there’s not much water left in Doane Pond, which helibucket helicopters used over and over again.
Now, with the rains just over the horizon, mountain residents will soon be challenged by rock slides and mud slides.
Sunday, as the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Dept. prepared to go back to normal staffing they were reminded that their main work on weekends is to peel irresponsible motorcyclists off the tarmac when they lose control.
As soon as the roads were open the motorcyclists were tearing up the highway, looking for adventure.