Chalk Fire, Night 2

As the glow of the last rays of the sunshine turned the plumes a pinkish hue, the wonderful air support we enjoyed all day, dropped their last loads, and went home.

Here are Betty’s words on that: “It is now quiet after a full day of the most radical air support ever! just at sunset the supertanker came flying in a line directly toward us and dropping red, in the red glow of the late afternoon, and the fire under its belly. so brave, and so overpowering to see such a display. it’s the sort of thing you never want to see again! however, probably more excitement than we thought, already. Please, let’s not get used to it…Well, that’s it. Need some rest and will report again in the morning.”

And here is my photograph, to go with her words. What a team, huh?

At the end of the day, a quiet settles in. The battle zone of airplanes overhead and many, many people coming through my front yard has ended. The end of the day, and its beginning, often offer the best photographic shots.

Here is one:

And can you say, “Almost eye level with a DC-10?”

10:00 pm-And here is tonight’s official word from the USFS:

Our information is still limited, but this is what we know:

The Chalk Fire started at approximately 7:30 p.m Saturday, September 27 in
the upper Mill Creek drainage area of Los Padres National Forest in
Monterey County. The fire is about 22 miles southwest of King City and
about 2 miles east of Highway 1. It is primarily south of Nacimiento
Fergusson Road which connects Fort Hunter Liggett to Highway 1.

The fire has burned approximately 800-900 acres in oak and brush in steep,
rugged terrain. There is very little to no wind on the fire and it is
primarily slope and fuel-driven.

Earlier this afternoon the fire reached and crossed to the north side of
Nacimiento Fergusson Road; it is also on both the west and east sides of
South Coast Ridge Road.

Residents of three parcels of private land within the national forest in
the Prewitt Ridge, Alms Ridge and Mill Creek areas, were advised to
evacuate earlier today. The fire is approximately 2 miles from the nearest
home.

All National Forest campgrounds along the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, South
Coast Ridge Road and Prewitt Ridge, have been evacuated.

An Evacuation Advisory has been issued for residents along Highway 1 in the
Limekiln, Hermitage and Harlan Property areas. This advisory is a
precautionary notice that people in these areas should be prepared to
evacuate if an evacuation order is issued.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Road closures: Nacimiento Fergusson Road is closed at Highway 1 on the west
side and at the national forest boundary on the east side. South Coast
Ridge Road is closed at Nacimiento Fergusson Road and Highway 1 at Plaskett
Creek. Highway 1 is open.

Draft map, acreage approximate, use for general location purposes only:

More detailed information about the location and status of the fire and the
resources assigned will be available after 7:30 a.m. Monday. Inciweb
(www.inciweb.org) will be updated by 7:30a.m. Monday. The Goleta Fire
Information Center will open at 7:30 a.m. Monday.

The information flow from the field to the Goleta Information Center should
improve Monday with additional field PIO’s. Thanks for your patience.

Kathy Good
Public Affairs Officer
Los Padres National Forest
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10:30 pm – I have information from reliable sources that this fire is expected to last a couple weeks at a predicted cost of $20,000,000. Predictions are that they have 20 MILES of line to build!! Oh, my! In just over 24 hours, the costs thus far have been $750,000. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. A burn-out is planned for sometime tomorrow.

I just went outside to check for glow. While there is some, it is much dimmer than last night, and primarily to the northeast, which is good for all of us.

Good night, everyone. I am aiming for about 6 hours of sleep tonight.