Chalk Update 10/23/08, Day 27-Highway One closed

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2008, 8:30 am.GOOD MORNING! See Connie’s amazing photos below!!

Here are a few photos of the situation I took around noon today. I ran out of cigarettes, and have a LONG night ahead of me, so had to go down the coast. And, of course, once down, I had to get as close to the fire as they would allow. Moth, I guess. They are not letting anyone through, even locals, so far. I spoke with the USFS PIO, Rick, and this was Cal-Trans’s call. He thinks it will be open in the morning, but I would check both Cal-Trans and CHP sites for verification before starting on what could be a very long detour. The USFS wanted to keep it open. It is burning down to the highway on some very rocky slope, so I can understand the concern. 

                                                                  bigsurkate

This was taken just south of Mill Creek. You can see Limekiln Bridge on the far left, and the trail of smoke, right on the highway. I have a closer shot of that fire right up to the highway from a different point of view.

                                                                    bigsurkate

The highway cuts across right below that flame. This is south of Limekiln, and clearly 100% slope, so nothing to do but let it burn, and it is burning with low intensity, so that is a good thing.

                                                                    bigsurkate

This is a closer shot of the flames further up. Robert and I stood on the side of the highway here and watched these trees go off. No winds, so should just burn itself out.

9:45 am – Most recent CHP info seems to indicate road to be closed all day, and will be reevaluated tomorrow morning. 

9:46AM	PER 14,SO END CLOSURE IS NOW 1/2 NO OF NACIMIENTO FERGUSEN
9:13AM	WILL RE EVALUATE IN THE AM IF RD CAN BE REOPENED
9:13AM	PER S2 AT OFC,FULL CLOSURE THRU DAYBREAK TOMORROW
8:37AM	1039 BRAD, LSNF W/CLOSURE
8:37AM	PER 14,OTHER CLOSURE IS JSO LIME KILN STATE PARK
8:32AM	CAN WE CLARIFY THE SOUTH END CLOSURE
8:31AM	LUCIA LODGE CLOSURE WOULD BE NORTH END
8:29AM	PER 22,VIA LL,CLOSURE MOVED TO LUCIA LODGE SO VEHS CAN TURN AROUND
8:25AM	CHALK FIRE, PER CFIRE
7:10AM	ROCKS FALLING IN AREA AND TRAFFIC BACKING UP
6:34AM	PER LOG 55, DOT HAS A HARD CLOSURE AT THIS LOC AS OF 2002 HRS

I am keeping last night’s post going so more of you have a chance to see last night’s photos from Connie McCoy. Lots of smoke and significant plume at Limekiln this morning. Please scroll down the see the incredible shots Connie McCoy took of the fire at Limekiln last night around 9 pm.

This morning’s USFS report indicates acreage up to 16,094, containment at 89%, personnel at 732. “Current Status:  Very little fire activity was observed overnight especially in the Limekiln State Park and Hermitage areas.  Firefighters will continue to improve containment lines and begin mop up efforts today in these areas.   Rolling rocks and debris caused the closure of a two-mile segment of Hwy 1 last night in the fire area.  Caltrans expects to reopen the highway later today.”  HUH?? From Connie’s photos, it looks like Limekiln was VERY active last night!

And here are a couple more from Connie that she took this morning. Awesome, aren’t they? Wish I could drag myself away from a brief due tomorrow to also take some shots!

                                                                     Connie McCoy

                                                                     Connie McCoy

10/23 8:30 am – CHP website reports:

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
7:10AM	ROCKS FALLING IN AREA AND TRAFFIC BACKING UP
6:34AM	PER LOG 55, DOT HAS A HARD CLOSURE AT THIS LOC AS OF 2002 HRS               Cal-Trans website reports same as last night: [IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]      IS CLOSED FROM 2 MI SOUTH OF LUCIA TO LUCIA (MONTEREY CO) – DUE TO   A WILDLAND FIRE – MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

10/22 9 pm -Due to rolling debris, the fire, and rock slides, Cal-Trans is reporting Highway One closed from 2 miles south of Lucia to Lucia tonight. I suspect they will be out around 6:30 or so to clean it up, and hopefully, get the road back open. Sounds like it is between Limekiln and the Hermitage, where the burn out operation has been taking place the last couple of days, to me. Jon Michael did note a lot of looky-loos on the highway around 2 pm this afternoon.

Well Connie McCoy came through the “road closure” after about 8:30 pm, and the fire personnel knew nothing about a closure. Maybe that is why CHP took it off their website, but Connie sent me some spectacular shots. Since it is almost midnight, and I really must have my first cocktail and only cocktail of the evening, and curl up in bed, I will only be posting one of the four she sent, but every one, including the one Robert took of her in the darkness of Limekiln bridge, looking into the flames, is spectacular!!

                                                                      Connie McCoy

I love the reflection off the water there. Okay, these are so good, I just have to post one more!

                                                                    Connie McCoy

Uh, oh. Midnight. I turned into a pumpkin, again.

Good night, all.