Fire and Water ... too much or too little in Santa Cruz County and beyond

Most recently we have had a number of weather events in the media. Flooding in Iowa, and fires here in Corralitos and just this week in Bonny Doon. Real estate in Bonny Doon is varied as the terrain. The area is ruggedly beautiful in areas and gently beautiful in others. There is a wide array of land from towering redwoods to rolling farmland to beautiful vistas over the valley towards Loma Prieta. This is truly a beautiful place if you want some peace of mind and don't want to be too far out.

Bonny Doon is located about 20 minutes north of Santa Cruz. It is a quiet little community that revolves around the Bonny Doon Fire and Rescue Department( all volunteer) and the school. The latter doubling as a meeting center. The fire that just scorched a bunch of land, about 600 acres, and probably dozen homes, is thankfully under control. They suspect a young camper of starting the fire, but that is to be determined. What seems to come of this to me is similar to what happened in Tahoe. People living in areas with a lot of fire fuel.Mother nature usually burns out that brush with her fires. With people living in so many areas, fires are seen as a threat and not as a natural process the enriches and rejuvenates the earth.

I am glad to hear of no deaths in either fire locally. Having a defensible space around one's house is going to be heard by people loud and clear ,now that fire season is on us early. When people buy homes in mountainous areas or in valleys too, we have to disclose the natural hazards in a disclosure report. This report helps inform people that in the event of a disaster, what or where they may be afflicted from or by. Remote areas like this and Corralitos are covered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.Cal Fire has been busy this year early, and was prepared earlier as well. Our disclosures indicate if a home is in an area of flooding, in an area that could be in danger should a dam break, or who would be in charge should there be a fire. Things like what is happening in Iowa might be noted as a 100 year and are mapped on our maps. Who knows what or where disaster may strike, but with proper information one can prepare and have a chance.

When I was in Watsonville for the Watsonville Fly -in I could see the smoke in the distance,which was comforting as it was from afar. In the Bonny Doon fire, it mixed with the fog and created this eerie light brown mixture that sort of looked like smog. They next day all of us in Rio Del Mar and much of Santa Cruz had ash on our cars. Interesting times.

Ash on the car and the fire and ash mixing with fog giving this eerie color to the air. Well gotta clean the car for Fathers Day as I have to show property soon. Makes things all get put in perspective. The good news is that here and in Iowa, real estate will be in demand as well as housing. At least that is how I like to look at the positive side of things in this economy. I am sure with all the construction slowing down, these will be seen as beneficial events, much as the Oakland fires were.Mother nature is once again cleaning house and rejuvenating. People are probably starting to the idea they need an emergency package set up to grab and go. Store your photos on-line so they can forever be available. Memories of the lost photos are often what we value most.

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