Wildfire Threat to Clark Ashton Smith's Hometown, Auburn, California

[Extollager]

https://fox40.com/news/wildfire-watch/auburn-looks-to-reduce-wildfire-risk-to-community/

Seeing news coverage about the wildfire raging near Auburn reminded me of Smith, who lived in a cabin near the town.

 

[Alex The G and T]

As much as I like to gripe about living in the fog belt, extreme northern, coastal California; we just don't have the same threat of explosive wildfires as the rest of the state.

None the less I've spent a significant amount of time, this summer, cutting back underbrush and dead fuels from around the house.

The other weird effect of the devastating wildfires is that people who were burned out of entire townships are moving to the coast for cooler temperatures and fear of conflagration. The housing market in our area is insanely competitive. Sky high prices and extremely limited availability.

My younger daughter and her partner, much as they enjoyed having their own household... Well, their landlord put their house up for sale. New rentals, virtually impossible to find and no landlord feels that they need to accept the dog...

Guess who's not a blissful, empty-nester anymore. Fortunately, it's a big house. I planned and built it for huge parties and raising kids.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

As much as I like to gripe about living in the fog belt, extreme northern, coastal California; we just don't have the same threat of explosive wildfires as the rest of the state.

None the less I've spent a significant amount of time, this summer, cutting back underbrush and dead fuels from around the house.

The other weird effect of the devastating wildfires is that people who were burned out of entire townships are moving to the coast for cooler temperatures and fear of conflagration. The housing market in our area is insanely competitive. Sky high prices and extremely limited availability.

My younger daughter and her partner, much as they enjoyed having their own household... Well, their landlord put their house up for sale. New rentals, virtually impossible to find and no landlord feels that they need to accept the dog...

Guess who's not a blissful, empty-nester anymore. Fortunately, it's a big house. I planned and built it for huge parties and raising kids.

How are things going with the restoration of your father's awesome fort, Alex?

 

[Alex The G and T]

Dad's 92 years old. He's still able to live comfortably in his home.

He hasn't shown much interest in rebuilding the battle towers or the Guillotine. He even declined my offers to restore the swimming pool pump system. Too many daily chores to maintain the pool, all year, for a 4 or 5 month swimming season.

But he has people who do a splendid job keeping the Pipe Organ in top condition and Dad hosted a couple of his usual organ concert events this year. And people still come to tour the Castle and Catacombs which survived the fire.


Whatever are we talking about??!? For those unfamiliar with Boomeria... My childhood home:

Tour of Boomeria

Boomeria is a private residence where teenagers have built such crazy things as a castle, a tunnel, a pipe organ and a guillotine. This is a tour of Boomeria with lots of pictures and some links.

boomeria.com

Tour of Boomeria - The Pipe Organ

boomeria.com

 

[Alex The G and T]

 

[Jo Zebedee]

View attachment 93124

- glad to hear all is well

 

[gOff2fish]

Mosquito Fire remains east of Auburn and Smith's home, and forward progress continues eastward for now. I live in Grass Valley about 30 miles North of Auburn and Mosquito Fire. The air quality from the smoke has been awful. Had another fire start yesterday just 10 miles North of Mosquito, but they seem to have it contained at 50 acres. Summers have become exceedingly and increasingly stressful, gone are the halcyon days of our youth.