STATE FIRE and wildlife experts told Big Sur residents Tuesday they’ve launched an assessment of the areas charred by the Basin Complex Fire to determine which will be most vulnerable to mudslides and what can be done to prevent them.

The fire, which burned more than 250 square miles and 27 homes in Big Sur, was started June 21 by a lightning strike. It took firefighters more than one month to contain the blaze, which destroyed vegetation over a vast area. Without vital ground cover to prevent erosion, heavy winter rains could cause devastating mudslides.

“Once we do the assessment, we will have better ideas of how homeowners can protect themselves,” Len Nielson of Cal Fire told the roughly 120 people in attendance at the Aug. 12 meeting at the Big Sur Lodge conference center.

In 1998, heavy rains saturated hillsides, causing mudslides that forced the closure of Highway 1 for months.

“That’s the big question,” said Kevin Cooper, forest wildlife biologist with the U.S. Forest Service. “How much is it going to rain?”

Like the first meeting Aug. 8, Tuesday’s followup was supposed to be co-chaired by U.S. Rep. Sam Farr and 5th District Supervisor Dave Potter, but Potter didn’t attend this week because of a “long-standing previous commitment,” according to his aide.

Although Potter requested Monterey County Sheriff Mike Kanalakis attend the meeting, Kanalakis didn’t show.

Winter not far off

Dozens of workers with the Burned Area Emergency Response Team, headed by the U.S. Forest Service, and the State Emergency Assessment Team, headed by Cal Fire, are evaluating the terrain.

“We will get a feel for the severity of the burn,” Nielson said. “That’s how we estimate the probability of the hazard to occur in the area.”

The analysis, which Nielson said will be available for public review within 14 days, entails visiting some residences and flying over areas to determine how much vegetation was damaged by the fire. Experts will also use satellite maps to find burned areas.

And the teams are seeking help from Big Sur residents themselves.

“There is nobody that knows these mountains in the world more than the people here,” said Farr.

Once the teams have completed their evaluation, they will forward their findings to state and federal officials.

“That is where the public and funding assistance folks come in,” Nielson said, and “determine what can be funded to help protect the infrastructure to a house, or whatever value is at risk.”

But officials said despite their efforts to minimize the risk of mudslides this winter, residents need to take their own precautions.

“There’s only so much we can do until [you] have to just get out of the way,” Nielson.

“What do you mean about getting out of the way?” asked resident Seth Parker,

“When you mix mud and water, it’s an incredible force,” Nielson responded. “There are not a lot of things you can do to stop it.”

More subdued

Although at a previous meeting residents were outspoken about what went wrong in battling the Basin Complex Fire, Tuesday’s meeting was more subdued.

Lance Gorman with the California Department of Transportation said workers are preparing for winter in Big Sur, installing chain link fence and netting on hillsides to prevent rock slides.

And Gorman said Caltrans might have its own workers, independent contractors and excavators on hand if a storm is imminent.

A handout from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service was distributed with the Do’s and Don’ts of post-fire restoration. Contact information for geotechnical engineers was offered in case residents want help with erosion control and slope stability.

Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Frank Pinney announced the formation of a citizen emergency

response team, or CERT, composed of Big Sur residents who will help spread the word during a storm about potential hazards.

Meanwhile, the California Coastal Commission and the Monterey County Planning Department said those whose homes were damaged or destroyed will have a streamlined process for rebuilding.

“The overall idea is that the permitting process not get in the way of getting the necessary and right things done,” said Lee Otter, planner with the California Coastal Commission.

Otter said most rebuilding permits will be issued on an emergency basis, which means public hearings and notices won’t be necessary.

County planning director Mike Novo said building fees would be waived. Also, county applications to reconstruct or replace damaged or destroyed structures as a result of the Basin Complex Fire will be placed ahead of all other projects. “There is no magic to it,” Novo said. “We just have to work faster.”