On June 21, 2008, a thunderstorm moved onshore in Big Sur. As lightning indiscriminately flashed on the dry land, three wildfires ignited within several miles of each other, including one on the ridge above Eagle’s Roost.
Immediately upon learning of the fire’s location, uncle Tim, who has lived in Big Sur for about 20 years, raced to the Roost and desperately tried to save it. While Tim attempted to create a fire break around the structure, his friend Aengus appeared out of nowhere to lend a hand. Despite their heroic efforts, the fire ultimately overtook the area. After they escaped, they parted ways and each ran off to try and save other structures.
Tim quickly joined with another friend, Tevye, and together they successfully created a fire break to save a neighboring home.
The three fires eventually merged and continued to burn for another month, scorching over 162,000 acres in the process. Tim and many other Big Sur locals stayed in the area for most or all of this time and continued to aide in any way they could, while at the same time running and hiding from the police that were trying to force them to evacuate.
I recently found an old local newspaper clip about the 2008 Big Sur fires. It was written while the fire was still burning, just a few days after the Roost was destroyed. Tim was interviewed for the article. While reflecting on his experiences with Aengus and Tevye, he was quoted as follows:
This is what it’s all about it. Times like these bring out the best in people. You think you’re alone, but you’re not…
People come up to me and say they’re sorry for my loss, but I don’t look at it that way. This is not about attachments. Things can be replaced.
This is about people helping each other.
Uncle Tim is a pretty wise dude.
For more details about Tim’s crazy adventures with the fire, I highly recommend you read about it in his own words, which I’ve pasted in first comment on this crazy picture of him trying to save the cabin.
