Aerial Views of Basin Complex Fire Interior

       On Aug 7, the USFS provided helicopter flight time to a group of local firefighters, including Jaime del Valle. Jaime took a series of photographs. We here at Hastings were very interested in estimating what happened to the wildlife? Were there refugia of green? Was it all burned?

      Jaime returned with 74 photos, and we can say that in some places, it was burned to the soil. In many other places, often in a complex matrix or mosaic, areas of green persist. As much of the area is wilderness, we are still seeking good titles for the photos. Some have names. The photos were taken in sequence- in a counterclockwise flight along the fire perimeter starting near the Los Padres Dam. It continued west to White Rocks, then south to Big Sur and eventually Dolan Ridge at the Big Creek Reserve. Then west toward the Indians Fire, and over that the southeast corner of the fire complex. Some camera technical difficulties over Tassajara meant no photos there (Jaime reports that area was a mosaic burn with large areas still green). They ended up where they started at the helicopter base at Tassajara Road and Carmel Valley Road. If you can identify some of the photos, e-mail us with titles for the photos. Thanks. 

So, click here to see the gallery of Jaime's photos.