The Basin Fire - Heroes of Big Sur

Yesterday I drove down to Big Sur to take a look at the Basin Fire. It is enormous and out of control. It has been burning for over a week since the area experienced dry lightning strikes. It is the second huge fire in the area that between them have burned something over 80,000 acres.

Fighting those fires are many heroic firefighters. Conspicuous among these brave people are the pilots of the helicopters that scoop up water and dump it on the blaze in an effort to keep the fire from spreading into habitated areas. They dive into the steep canyons where there is precious little maneuvering room and flame generated updrafts to deliver their cargo. It takes skill and guts.

This chopper has delivered its load of water and is on its way back to the coast to reload.