Well, golly gee whizzies..... doesn't that "sound" just "wonderful" ! ? ! ? HOWEVER.. Remember Oct 1995 ? .. ............In a little coastal area called Point Reyes Station the Elected Officials had been saying the very same thing for many many years....... that they had the foggiest, wettest air on the West Coast. That a serious fire could not possibily happen to them.. In October 1995 it took 2000 firefighters, 108 engines, 7 air tankers, 7 helicopters, and five days of hard firefighting to teach them a " lesson" they will not soon forget. For one of the newspaper accounts of what happened......... Click <HERE> > a new page will open, click on link at mid-page / download to your machine. |
There is yet one more reprehensible activity that the East Bay Regional Parks Dept Senior Management Officials have apparently engaged in ..... and has been documented. Click <HERE> for the letter. |
We have all seen how winds from off the crest of a ridge or cliff are able to cause enough "lift", or updraft; that engine-less craft known as Hang-gliders are able to soar for extended periods of time. The San Pablo Ridge, and Pearl Ridge areas have that type of updraft. For a map of wind direction, and Ridge location, click <HERE> |
The El Sobrante Valley is a wind-corridor to the Sacramento Valley. The wind direction can change dramatically in just a few hours. Quite often the wind will start up at around sunset, ripping through the trees all night long. . . . and in the morning will be a surreal dead-calm. With tree limbs and other debris scattered everywhere. . . . . . . . . . The East Bay Regional Parks management has said that these winds don't exist in such a manner as to pose any sort of a problem. After considerable difficulty, we have managed to record a sunset-time-video of these . "winds-that-don't-exist". . .Click <HERE> for this video / new page will open > click on link at center-page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .( RealPlayer plugin required.) |
You have probably heard the Meteorologist at your favorite television station mention the Bay Area weather "microclimates". . . . . The El Sobrante Valley has frequent overnight winds that can equal the wind at the summit on Mount Tamalpais. Click <HERE> for a map that indicates the three primary wind directions. |
West C.C.County Supervisor John Gioia has stated in face to face conversation with members of the La Colina Homeowners Committee, that he has NO intention whatsoever of implementing, or considering the recommendations of Battalion Chief Hooper. . . . . . . . . click <HERE> for Chief Hooper's letter. |
- - NOTICE of NEGLIGENT BREACH of PUBLIC SAFETY - - LOCATION : San Pablo Ridge / Pearl Ridge ; lies within Wildcat Canyon Regional Park ; > Along the North Slope interface with the adjacent improved properties and occupied dwellings on the southern edges of El Sobrante, Calif., within West Contra Costa County. JURISDICTION : East Bay Regional Park District ; > owns and manages the Wildcat Canyon Regional Park ( a State-mandated special park district operation ) > Board of Directors: Carol Severin, President; John Sutter, Vice-President; Ayn Wieskamp, Treasurer; Ted Radke, Secretary; Beverly Lane; Douglas Siden; Jean Siri; ......................................................... ................................................... STATEMENT of COMPLAINT : >For eight years, East Bay Regional Parks Department have maintained conditions on and about SanPabloRidge, that by any reasonable estimation could easily become the flashpoint for a Firestorm , similiar to that which enveloped Oakland in 1991. >There is an extremely heavy fuel load on steep hillside, needed to feed such a fire..... and limited restricted access (bottlenecks) on our narrow two-lane roads.... >And Most importantly.... We have the same high winds from off the top of the Ridge that would "fan" any fire up and over the firecrews..... Forcing those crews into choosing between scattering their trucks throughout the hills, or trying to contain the Initial Blaze Site. AND IN ADDITION : >East Bay Regional Parks Department has taken out / allowed to fall into disrepair, the firetrails that would allow the firetrucks access.... have taken out the 20foot fuelbreaks needed to slow down the spread of a blaze.... have allowed the dead brush, wildgrasses, and the debris from the chaparral to build up.... year after year after year. >The overgrowth includes several patches of chaparral that have reached 18feet high; and are within ten feet of adjoining homes. Our documentation includes videotaped statements taken at 'Town Hall' homeowners meetings that show E.B.Park Fire Officials ardently recommending that the *minimum* of FireProtection is perfectly reasonable..... due to their "guesstimate" of how fast the north slope fuel load would "probably" burn....... that an Eucalyptus "crown fire" couldn't possibly get out-of-control in the contradictory (and) high-velocity winds we frequently experience along these ridges. These conditions and attitudes are viewed as completely reprehensible, and an abrogation of the duty and responsibility of the East Bay Regional Park Dept. to protect the adjoining communities. The fire dangers that their vast expanses of sprawling grasslands and forested areas present should not be underestimated. ( to view location map of Wildcat Canyon.... click <HERE> ....) That the Wildcat Canyon Master Plan and the attendant E.I.R. give considerable mention to the slide and fire hazard dangers, *should be warning enough*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DEMAND for ACTION : Abatement of Hazardous Weeds and Rubbish Sagebrush, Chaparral, and any other brush or weeds which attain such large growth as to become, when dry, a fire menace to adjacent improved property. In ADDITION : The re-establishment of firetrails and fire breaks, in accordance with Contra Costa County fire abatement standards. ............................................................... ............................................................ .. |
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- - NOTICE of NEGLIGENT BREACH of PUBLIC SAFETY - - LOCATION : San Pablo Ridge / Pearl Ridge ; lies within Wildcat Canyon Regional Park ; > Along the North Slope interface with the adjacent improved properties and occupied dwellings on the southern edges of El Sobrante, Calif., within West Contra Costa County. JURISDICTION : East Bay Regional Park District ; > owns and manages the Wildcat Canyon Regional Park ( a State-mandated special park district operation ) > Board of Directors: Carol Severin, President; John Sutter, Vice-President; Ayn Wieskamp, Treasurer; Ted Radke, Secretary; Beverly Lane; Douglas Siden; Jean Siri; ......................................................... ................................................... STATEMENT of COMPLAINT : >For eight years, East Bay Regional Parks Department have maintained conditions on and about SanPabloRidge, that by any reasonable estimation could easily become the flashpoint for a Firestorm , similiar to that which enveloped Oakland in 1991. >There is an extremely heavy fuel load on steep hillside, needed to feed such a fire..... and limited restricted access (bottlenecks) on our narrow two-lane roads.... >And Most importantly.... We have the same high winds from off the top of the Ridge that would "fan" any fire up and over the firecrews..... Forcing those crews into choosing between scattering their trucks throughout the hills, or trying to contain the Initial Blaze Site. AND IN ADDITION : >East Bay Regional Parks Department has taken out / allowed to fall into disrepair, the firetrails that would allow the firetrucks access.... have taken out the 20foot fuelbreaks needed to slow down the spread of a blaze.... have allowed the dead brush, wildgrasses, and the debris from the chaparral to build up.... year after year after year. >The overgrowth includes several patches of chaparral that have reached 18feet high; and are within ten feet of adjoining homes. Our documentation includes videotaped statements taken at 'Town Hall' homeowners meetings that show E.B.Park Fire Officials ardently recommending that the *minimum* of FireProtection is perfectly reasonable..... due to their "guesstimate" of how fast the north slope fuel load would "probably" burn....... that an Eucalyptus "crown fire" couldn't possibly get out-of-control in the contradictory (and) high-velocity winds we frequently experience along these ridges. These conditions and attitudes are viewed as completely reprehensible, and an abrogation of the duty and responsibility of the East Bay Regional Park Dept. to protect the adjoining communities. The fire dangers that their vast expanses of sprawling grasslands and forested areas present should not be underestimated. ( to view location map of Wildcat Canyon.... click <HERE> ....) That the Wildcat Canyon Master Plan and the attendant E.I.R. give considerable mention to the slide and fire hazard dangers, *should be warning enough*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DEMAND for ACTION : Abatement of Hazardous Weeds and Rubbish Sagebrush, Chaparral, and any other brush or weeds which attain such large growth as to become, when dry, a fire menace to adjacent improved property. In ADDITION : The re-establishment of firetrails and fire breaks, in accordance with Contra Costa County fire abatement standards. ............................................................... ............................................................ .. |
Firestorm Danger to El Sobrante Valley all Valley Residents please be advised . . . . . . |
This website will be updated as necessary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . ...Efforts to rid the El Sobrante Valley of these unreasonable and unnecessary fire hazards are ongoing, and will continue until they are successful. There is much Documentation that needs to be processed..... and downloaded into this site. This includes a considerable amount of videotape footage, photographs, and letters......... Where you will be able to see and hear for yourself the conduct and attitudes of your various Contra Costa County and EastBay RegionalPark Elected Officials.................. ... These attitudes are viewed as Reprehensible to a large majority of ElSobrante Valley homeowners and residents who have viewed this documentation......., .................................................................................................................................... ....The 2100 Oakland homeowners who had their homes burnt to the ground would *now* give anything to be able to have prevented their catastrophe ......Using kitchen forks to sort through the ash remains of your home , looking for personal keepsakes, is such an ICKY way to spend the day.................. ...............wouldn't you agree ? ? ? |
.How very sad that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors could have "forgotten" the Oakland Firestorm "lessons" . . . . . . And it has only been 10 yrs. |
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A petition was sent to the East Bay Regional Parks Dept demanding that the San Pablo Ridge (and Pearl Ridge) fire trails and fuel breaks be restored. They replied... (and I quote from their reply letter...) - - "The EastBayRegional Park District purchased the Taylor-McCosker property in 1982 and has not taken out any fire trails or firebreaks." Please look at these photographs and decide for *yourself* the truth of the matter. |
And when an appeal was made to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to interceed on behalf of the El Sobrante homeowners . . . . . or at the very LEAST, to write a letter to the EastBay Regional Parks Dept expressing concern over the conditions on the San Pablo Ridge (which is upwind of the 14,000 residents of El Sobrante....) ........... They DECLINED . . . . . |
It has been eight long years since the East Bay Regional Parks Dept had been advised that the Fire Hazard Conditions mentioned on this Website were UNACCEPTABLE to the Homeowners who lived along the Wildcat Canyon Park perimeters .. ......................... .................. ...In the event that ANY IMPROVEMENT is implemented, a Notice will be posted on this website. |
This Eucalyptus Grove has approximately 300 trees. . . . ..They are an average height of 150 feet. . . . . . . |
The frequent occurrence of overnight high velocity winds along these ridgelines.... (that rival those at the crest of Mount Tamalpais...) are what would loft burning debris to the adjoining hillsides surrounding the El Sobrante Valley. |
<------- two miles in this direction is Tilden Regional Park with its many years buildup of tree debris (fuel-load for fire) |
When flames raced along the Oakland Eucalyptus Trees ..( a "crown fire"...) The burning debris became wind-lofted and was able to leap over two eight-lane Freeways...... |
Please wait for page to load completely - 120 sec on 53 k modem . . . . when nearly finished, the Midi Player will auto-start |
Contact us via Email if you have any info that might prove useful. |
THIS ENTIRE TRAIL COMPLEX IS UNUSEABLE WITH WASHOUTS, OR COMPLETELY GROWN OVER WITH BRUSH AND SMALL TREES. |
. . .WE ARE CONSIDERING STARTING A NEWSLETTER. . . ...............IF YOU WISH TO BE KEPT INFORMED................ . . . . . LEAVE A MESSAGE AT THE ABOVE LINK . . . . . |
It was two long years ago that West Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia was informed by Certified Letter concerning the nature and scope of this fire danger to the El Sobrante Valley . . . . . . . . A 32 page report was delivered to his offices. .....This report included photographs. . . . and terrain maps. . . and wind flow charts . . . AND a copy of a letter from Senior Contra Costa Fire Battalion Chief Don Hooper ..............Please be advised that Battalion Chief Hooper is known and respected throughout both West County, and Central Contra Costa County. As far as we have been able to determine, he is considered to be a fine example of a Professional Firefighter. |
The letter from Battalion Chief Hooper (dated August 22, 1995) was addressed to the East Bay Regional Parks District. Within this letter Battalion Chief Hooper does NOT mince words about the problems along the San Pablo Ridge, and the fire threat that the condition of the East Bay Park Dept lands pose to the adjacent private properties. . . . . . . . . . . to quote from Chief Hooper's letter: |
. . " We also recognize the fire threat which exists, from the Regional Parks property as it is . . . . . . . . It is clear we need a plan " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
West C.C.County Supervisor John Gioia has stated in face to face conversation with members of the La Colina Homeowners Committee, that he has NO intention whatsoever of implementing, or considering the recommendations of Battalion Chief Hooper. . . . . . . . . click <HERE> for Chief Hooper's letter. |
THE UNALTERED CONDITIONS OF THESE PARK LANDS AFTER TWO YEARS STAND AS MUTE TESTIMONY THAT Supervisior Gioia MEANT PRECISELY WHAT HE SAID . . . . . . . HOW VERY VERY SAD INDEED. |
This map will orient you to where El Sobrante is located. Look to map center. . . . . just above El Cerrito. Wildcat Canyon is the "green area" situated between these two cities. |
You have probably heard the Meteorologist at your favorite television station mention the Bay Area weather "microclimates". . . . . The El Sobrante Valley has frequent overnight winds that can equal the wind at the summit on Mount Tamalpais. Click <HERE> for a map that indicates the three primary wind directions. |
The El Sobrante Valley is a wind-corridor to the Sacramento Valley. The wind direction can change dramatically in just a few hours. Quite often the wind will start up at around sunset, ripping through the trees all night long. . . . and in the morning will be a surreal dead-calm. With tree limbs and other debris scattered everywhere. . . . . . . . . . The East Bay Regional Parks management has said that these winds don't exist in such a manner as to pose any sort of a problem. After considerable difficulty, we have managed to record a sunset-time-video of these . "winds-that-don't-exist". . .Click <HERE> for this video / new page will open > click on link at center-page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .( RealPlayer plugin required.) |
We have all seen how winds from off the crest of a ridge or cliff are able to cause enough "lift", or updraft; that engine-less craft known as Hang-gliders are able to soar for extended periods of time. The San Pablo Ridge, and Pearl Ridge areas have that type of updraft. For a map of wind direction, and Ridge location, click <HERE> |
There is yet one more reprehensible activity that the East Bay Regional Parks Dept Senior Management Officials have apparently engaged in ..... and has been documented. Click <HERE> for the letter. |
You have read the letter...... now understand this > Even though East Bay Regional Park Officials promised in writing six years ago to repair the perimeter fencing, and to restore the firetrails, and make the necessary preparations for return of cattle....as per the Battalion Chief's request ( see the Chief's Letter ) . . . . . . . . . Not a single one of these "promises" were kept ! ! ! They now even deny these commitments were made in writing . . . . . . AND these denials were made in the presence of Contra Costa County Supervisior John Gioia. > who, after being informed that documentation was available on premise to refute the outrageous claims of the Park Officials, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Our County Supervisor John Gioia did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about it . . . . .? ? ? ? |
And if you thought that the previous items were bad enough . . . . . . |
The previous owners of this San Pablo Ridge North Slope area had the "good sense" to install their own private firetrails..... later, the Fire Officials of Contra Costa County added their own "County Fire Trails" to these Northern Slopes. Now that the East Bay Regional Parks Dept has taken over ownership, this complex of firetrails has become unuseable. Park Fire Officials say that the trails are "grown over and indistinct" .....that they did not remove those trails ( stopping maintenance and allowing them to crumble into ruin isn't removing them ? ? ? ? ? ? ......) .............. Here are a collection of photographs so that YOU can decide for yourself .... click on thumbnail pictures More info embedded in each larger Pic. |
THERE IS A VIDEOTAPE RECORDING OF THE ABOVE ENCOUNTER AVAILABLE ! . . . .AS SOON AS WE HAVE SUITABLE SOFTWARE TO PRESENT THIS TAPE, IT WILL BE UPLOADED. |
There is one claim that East Bay Regional Park Officials have made over and over again, about the El Sobrante microclimate winds. They have said that they are concerned only about the hot dry EasternWind ( wind "C" ) that comes from the valley areas. They claim that the wind from the "other" directions, is a relatively moist, wet air mass...... and that such air would not cause a fire problem.............. |
Well, golly gee whizzies..... doesn't that "sound" just "wonderful" ! ? ! ? HOWEVER.. Remember Oct 1995 |