By Christy Scott
The Alpine Sun

     PINE VALLEY — When local residents looked east into the mountains last Wednesday afternoon, many saw the giant plume of smoke rising from the hills, and many immediately flew into action. Within an hour of the Pine Fire being reported residents in Alpine and areas east were preparing their belongings and families, calling friends who worked down the hill, and leaving their offices to return to their mountain homes.
     The towering smoke-cloud, and unfortunate lack of information, reminded many of the Cedar Fires in 2003, when residents in the area weren’t sure where the fire was, where it was going or what they had to do. Everyone in East County learned their lessons during that fire, and no one was taking any chances this time around.
     The fire sparked near Corte Madera Road just before 1 p.m. on Wednesday, and quickly burned areas that were inaccessible to ground fire crews and trucks. By 3 p.m. the fire was blazing less than two miles south of Interstate 8, across from Pine Valley, burning to the east. Access by ground was impossible that afternoon, and much of the firefighting was done by a flock of planes, spotting, marking and bombing with blaze with fire retardant.
     In rural Pine Valley residents were also preparing, knowing that any sudden change in the wind would bring the flames right towards them. Many were loading up animals and other important items in case they needed to leave in a hurry.
     That night, as the fire burned over Long Valley Peak, many residents stayed awake, or slept in shifts, keeping an eye on the blaze. Schools in the Mountain Empire Unified School District were also closed Thursday.
     Firefighters worked overnight to quell the flames, which didn’t threaten any homes, but continued to burn in hard to reach areas. By Thursday afternoon the fire, although only 35 percent contained, was no longer much of a threat, and it was extinguished completely by Saturday.
     More than 1,000 federal, state and local firefighters helped battle the Pine Fire, which charred 2,170 acres, at a cost of more than $1 million. Officials have said that an illegal campfire originally sparked the blaze.