So, what this tells me is that when Cal-Trans is working, dawn to dusk, the road is open. Once they go home at night, all bets are off, and you travel at your own risk. PLEASE be careful if you come through after dark. This is a highly volatile and dangerous situation!

Highway 1 is open!  This information came from Danny Milsap, Caltrans Supervisor for south coast, as of 7:35 AM this morning – Saturday, October 25, 2008.

Highway Closed again tonight until tomorrow. Another rock slide. So, boys and girls, this is a touch and go situation. 

HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH OF LUCIA REOPENS TODAY
MONTEREY COUNTY – Caltrans will reopen a three-mile section of Hwy. 1
between Nacimiento-Ferguson Road, about 27 miles south of Big Sur, and
Lucia, about 23 miles south of Big Sur, at 3 pm today, Friday, Oct. 24.
This section had been closed due to the Chalk fire since 7 pm on Wednesday,
Oct. 22. 

Provided there are no other fire incidents/adverse conditions, the road will
remain open but is subject to traffic control or closures if conditions
worsen.

Here are some photos supplied by Cal-Trans:

The Volcano!! Connie got a great shot of this the other day, but unfortunately, her computer ate it!

Look where the rocks are in relation to the yellow line!

And lookey here … we have fire sliding down onto the road!!

Kudos to Cal-Trans for sharing these, and for getting the road open today. Thanks, Danny, Richard, Angie, Phil, and Mike!!

And tonight, it finally looks like it is over. Of course, I remember I said that once before, but this time, I really mean it! Now let’s see if Mother Nature agrees with me!!

Here is part of tonight’s inciweb report:

“Crews will continue mop up and improve existing line along the Hermitage Road to Highway 1. Mop up around structures and improvements in Limekiln State Park. Begin to clean up and remove hose. The Evacuation Warning for Hermitage has been down graded to and Evacuation Watch as of 6:00pm tonight. The Evacuation Watch for the Harlan Ranch and Morning Glory area was lifted as of 6:00pm on October 23, 2008”

Okay, here’s today’s report on the Ever Ready Fire. From my perch, all is very quiet. I saw no “glow” last night, anywhere, and this morning, there is no smoke, to speak of. Very quiet, peaceful day. From what I can tell from the Cal-Trans and CHP sites, Highway One is still closed as of 9:00 am this morning, but expected to open by this evening. Maybe we’ll be lucky, and it will open sooner.

Quick Facts

  Acres burned:  16,269
  Miles of fireline to build:  1.5
  Date started:  9/27/08 (evening)
  Percent contained:  93%
  Expected containment:  10/28/2008
  Firefighter injuries to date:  19
  Structures threatened:  49
  Structures destroyed:  0
  Suppression cost to date:  $21.9 million
  Crews:  10
  Engines:  32
  Helicopters:  9
  Air tankers:  0
  Dozers:  2
  Total personnel assigned:  667

Current Status:  Yesterday’s firing operation in the Limekiln area was very successful.  In the morning, the fire was moving very slowly, and rocks and debris were falling onto Highway 1, resulting in the closure of the highway.  Had the fire been allowed to move at its own pace, Highway 1 would likely have been closed for another 5 days.  The Incident Commander decided to introduce fire to speed up the completion of the burn so that the highway could be reopened sooner.  Caltrans expects to reopen the highway by the end of today, providing there are no other fire incidents or adverse conditions.  Last night, no fire activity was observed and crews kept a watchful eye on all constructed lines north of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road.

Today’s Objectives:  Provide for firefighter and public safety, keep the fire east of Hermitage Road and hold the fire on the ridge south of Gamboa Ridge.

Evacuations: On October 17, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department issued an Evacuation Warning for Limekiln State Park north to the New Camaldoli Hermitage.  Approximately 9 residents are within the evacuation area. This stage of Evacuation Warning is given for affected areas where there is imminent threat to life and property. Persons who receive notification of this warning should evacuate in accordance with the direction given to them by Sheriff’s Department Deputies who are on scene.  This Evacuation Warning is still in effect.

The Evacuation Watch for Lucia north to Lopez Point was lifted at 6:00 p.m. yesterday.

And from Dave Potter’s Office:

Supervisors Dave Potter and Simón Salinas

urge your attendance at one

of three community meetings being held

so you can learn more about what you need

to know, and do, as a resident of the affected burn areas.

Len Nielson of CAL FIRE,

and the

Team Leader on the

preparation of the SEAT Report,

 will be present to answer questions.

Federal, state and local officials will also be in

attendance to give information and to answer questions.

The Big Sur Area meeting will be held Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at the Big Sur Lodge from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Refreshments will be served.

This is the agenda:

1.  Welcome   Sup. Dave Potter and Sup. Simon  Salinas        

2.  Introductions

3.  Presentation of SEAT Report on Basin Complex Fire  Len Nielson,            

And Impacts to Community from Winter Storms                       CALFIRE 

4.  Brief Presentations on Winter Storm Preparedness by:

·      Monterey County Office of Emergency Services

·      Monterey County Sheriff’s Department

·      National Weather Service

·      Monterey County Water Resources Agency

·      American Red Cross

·      The SPCA of Monterey County

·      Monterey County Resource Management Agency

        5.   Questions and Answers

That’s all folks. I’ve got places to go and people to see.