Fire at Sailor Bar Reinforces Concerns About Opening Roads to Motor Vehicle Traffic

On the night of April 15, residents near Sailor Bar called the Sheriff’s Department about a fire at the parkway around 8:15. The Sheriff’s Dept. quickly responded to the call and the fire crew put out the fire. However, the incident illuminates the concerns already expressed by Friends of Sailor Bar that opening the interior roads to motor vehicle traffic will set the stage for fires and other hazards to wildlife and humans.

Following are letters about the fire sent to Supervisor Rich Desmond from two local residents, who shared their communication with us for posting. You can express your concerns to Supervisor Desmond at richdesmond@saccounty.gov

From resident who called the sheriff’s dept. about the fire

Dear Mr. Desmond,

It is unfortunate that I feel compelled to write to you again to express my frustration regarding the management of Sailor Bar. 

Last night I noticed that people were in the parkway after dark with a campfire blazing. Thankfully, the Sheriff’s office responded to my call and the fire was extinguished. The fire of 2015 in this same area is still too fresh in my mind.

The Regional Parks Director has tried to assure us that the Illinois Ave gate is closed at night, and that there is now adequate park patrol staffing.

I don’t know if the problem is dishonesty or incompetence, but clearly there is a problem. The Illinois Ave gate was not locked, and it took a call to the Sheriff to address last night’s illegal activities.

Please consider that the area of last night’s incident is viewable from residences on Bluff Lane, and that’s the only reason the activities were stopped. What will happen if roads into the interior of Sailor Bar are opened? I think we all know. 

From another resident

Mr Desmond and Ms Bellas,

Last night there was a fire along the water’s edge east of the Sailor Bar boat launch and there appeared to be one or more people at the fire.  It was reported and it appeared that the sheriff’s dept. responded and chased them off.   One of my neighbors drove down there and was able to drive into the park through the Illinois gate around 8:15pm.In a previous email from Ms Bellas she assured me that the traffic gate would be closed during non-park hours.  This was not the case last night.She also said that there was adequate Ranger coverage for the area.  Again, I take exception to that comment as well. I truly do not understand why you are so adamant about opening more of the remote areas of Sailor Bar when the County can’t handle what’s currently open – it makes absolutely no sense.

Still concerned!

(photo credit: Jon Koster)