Nurse on way to work puts out fire on side of US50 with paddle fin and gallon of water

TWIN BRIDGES, Calif. - On Monday, August 31 at about 6:20 p.m., Sara Monroe was doing what she does a few days a week, heading from her home in Pollock Pines to her job at Barton Health in South Lake Tahoe. The CNA with the Skilled Nursing Facility had just passed Twin Bridges on US50 and was heading up the hill towards Camp Sacramento when something caught her attention, perhaps a puff of smoke off the side of the road.

Sara had driven past where she thought she saw the smoke so turned around and headed to where she thought it came from. She said something told her to check it out. She didn't see any other cars stopping at the large turnout nor did she see people and knew it wasn't a controlled burn.

When she stopped her car in the turnout she grabbed the gallon jug of water she had in the vehicle. She climbed up the hill and saw a cedar tree with flames about three feet high around it and knew that was where her water had to go to prevent any spread of the fire. Once water was out Sara ran back to her car to get her shovel. She realized when she looked in the back of the car she didn't have her shovel after taking it out the day before and forgot to put it back in. What she did have was her paddle fin. Knowing she had to kick up dirt she grabbed the fin and went back up the hill. Once she knew she had done all she could she called 911.

"I was in a full-blown panic by that time," said Sara who had trouble getting the emergency operator to understand where she was and that there were no cross streets around.

The nearest fire departments, Lake Valley and Cal Fire, arrived in 26 minutes. While waiting she kept an eye on the fire, stomped out some embers, and took a video to prove to her bosses she was indeed on an emergency and had a good reason to be late for work.

Sara knows the danger of forest fires around Lake Tahoe. Her family was twice evacuated during the King Fire, helped prepare for evacuees at a care facility she was working at, and said she's had many close calls with fire.

"I will always look at that spot when driving by," said Sara of the turnout above Slippery Ford.

She also urges people to pay attention to their surroundings, something they can still do while going 55 mph. Be aware, she said.

Many cars passed by her spot, not knowing what was happening. Any of them could have called 911 at a minimum, but they didn't. No other cars stopped and no other calls were received by the dispatch center.

"Help, even if you don't want to be delayed, make a call," said Sara. "Our fire crews have been so busy...people need to start helping to keep all safe."

She was in the right place, at the right time and with enough of the right tools to put out a fire. Sara said so many things added up during her day that allowed her to be there at that precise moment.

Since the incident Sara has been receiving messages all day, both on her phone and Facebook where the video of the fire was posted.

"I do not think of myself as a hero, I think I acted as so many others who live here would do," said Sara.

The life-long county resident said she was scared, and while she was putting water on the fire and digging dirt she questioned if she was prepared enough.

"There was a moment in my mind told me I had to do it scared, there was no other choice," said Sara.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.