The Day a Beer Saved a Bear
An interactive retelling of a single act of vigilance that averted catastrophe in the El Dorado National Forest.
The Scene is Set
Every great story has a beginning. Ours starts with a fateful choice, a damp climate, and a journey home. This section details the crucial alignment of events that placed our hero in the perfect position to save the day.
A Fateful Decision
After a grueling afternoon of errands, a single, well-deserved beer was consumed. This simple act of refreshment set destiny in motion, placing Colleen behind the wheel and assigning me the noble, and as it turns out, critical, role of “critter spotter.”
Ominous Weather
The days prior were a meteorological circus of unseasonable coolness, rain, and impressive thunderstorms. The ground was saturated, the air was heavy with moisture—a perfect disguise for the lurking danger ahead.
The Discovery
As we passed Caples Lake, my eyes, sharpened by destiny (and perhaps hops), detected an anomaly. What at first seemed like fog or steam soon revealed its true, terrifying nature.
“At first, I thought it was steam or fog because everything was so wet. But then it looked more like smoke. As we drove past the tree I saw flames.”
The Response: A Timeline of Heroism
Averted disaster requires swift, decisive action. This is the moment-by-moment account of how the alarm was raised and how professionals, drawn by the sheer gravity of my report, rushed to the scene.
1. The 911 Call
From the Caples Lake Maintenance station, the call was placed. Each word was chosen with the careful precision of a seasoned operative to convey the impending doom threatening the forest.
2. CHP Arrives
In minutes, a CHP officer materialized, seemingly teleported to the scene. His swift arrival was a testament to the urgency I had conveyed—bending the very fabric of space-time.
3. Kirkwood VFD On Scene
Moments later, the brave heroes of the Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Department roared onto the scene, ready to battle the blaze that I, and I alone, had discovered.
The Stakes Were High
Why such urgency over a single tree? Because all fires start small. The memory of a recent, devastating fire that began from a single lightning strike loomed large, a grim reminder of what could have been.
“The Tamarack fire which started only a few miles away from the burning tree was started by a lightening strike and no one thought it would be a problem. They were wrong.”
Adding to the drama, a hay truck drove by—a truly unsettling sight and a reminder of the chain reaction we had just prevented.
The Moral of the Story
Upon my triumphant return, I patrolled the meadows of Kirkwood, a self-appointed guardian ensuring no spark remained. The conclusion to this epic is as undeniable as it is clear.
Good thing I had a beer with dinner.
Otherwise, I would have been driving, Colleen would have been sleeping, and no one would have saved the El Dorado Forest and its most cherished resident…
Nutmeg the Bear
You’re welcome, El Dorado Forest. You’re welcome, Nutmeg.