11:30 pm – last truck through?
8:30 pm – another LPNF Monterey crew came through around 8. What’s that about? But my view of the fire from the front gate looks as if it is knocked down. No wind up here, all afternoon, despite the conditions on the coast and in Big Sur Valley. If internet cooperates, I will post some photos tonight.
7:15 pm – I have been trying to upload a photo for over a couple hours and no go. Plus I can’t update while I do that. So photos later. Two Gabilan crew trucks came through around 6, and a Monterey crew truck around 7 pm. Much of BSVFB is on its way home, Air support has pretty much ceased, but the word I have is that the fire is or will be knocked down by sunset. Mop-up tomorrow, in all likelihood. No worries from my end.
4:30 pm – just went to the front gate to take a look. It is *not* coming this way, it is heading down the face toward Willow Creek, so I am in pretty good shape, unless the wind changes. This was taken from the front gate, at 4:30 pm:
4:00 pm – BSVFB just came through! YAY!! It is going to be a very busy afternoon!
3:45 pm – LPNF E 15 came through at 2:58; LE at 3:25 (Roberta); LPNF Es 18 and 19 at 3:40 pm, with red lights. The fire is at Hard Rock’s driveway, if you know where that is. No evacuation at this time. Planes are laying down retardant, and a helicopter bucket is getting from the ocean. I will post as I can. I am busy taking photos, and as Avis writes below, I am having internet problems. Naturally.
This is the boray tanker. You can tell by the color of its belly. At least, I think it is a boray tanker. The pink on its belly is a little pale. Maybe because it is early in the season? 😉
This was taken from the front gate, around 3:30 pm:
This is the smoke around 2:45 pm from just in front of my place;
Hello readers of Big Sur Kate. Kate is not able to get online and asked me to post this.
As of early this afternoon there is a wildfire on Plaskett Ridge. The information I was told is that it is near the top. Which puts it near Kate’s house. And near Kinnick’s property.
As I am typing this I hear another siren going by.
The following information was given to me from a local who is on the fire brigade.
On scene at this time are the:
U.S. Forest Service – BC – Patrol 18 & Engine 18
Big Sur Fire Brigade – Engine 7832 – 7831 & Fire Brigade Chief.
Planes are flying and I was told they appear to be spotter planes and that helicopters and bombers will be on scene soon.
The Fire Brigade member also told me,
The grasses are tall and dry up there and this fire will move quickly in the grasses. Fortunately the brush still has moisture in it and when the fire reaches it, it should slow down and that may be where they will be able to contain the fire. But it is windy and nothing is for sure at this time.
The chatter on the USFS radio is of possible evacuations of Plaskett. This has not been yet confirmed.
That’s all I know at this time. I will, or Kate if she is able, post more when we know.
Just off the phone with Kate. She says the fire seems to be 1 1/2 miles from her. She says she is not so concern because of the moisture still in the ground. She says it’s not windy there, but it is crazy windy here in the Valley. On her way to her gate, dogs secured, and she’s going to take pictures. I heard a siren earlier here. The responders are there. She said she’d call so I could post. So much thanks to Avis.
Just got back from a drive down the coast. A local who lives on the lower end of Plaskett said he watched 10 CDF trucks go up. Then more after that. As we talked and as I drove down the coast I saw at least another 10 USFS trucks heading up. At one point you could see smoke at Lucia but now with wind shifting no smoke is visible from the highway. The main concern from what I’m hearing is the fire going down into Willow.
Lots of pink ribbons flowing in the wind at the bottom of your road. And more fire fighters at P.V. Station. So far they are not blocking off Plaskett Road to traffic. At least at the bottom they may have a blockade set up further up the road.
Glad to hear you have lots of people there to help you should you need to evacuate and keep you company to help make what sounds to be a long night.
I love you hunny, and you know all of us are sending love and light to all of you who live there and to all the fire fighters.
A lot of the traffic came in from South Coast Ridge Rd. and much going out that way. I was told by Jess Mason that Plaskett was closed to traffic, so it may be closed above Gary’s place. It appears to be under control. I am trying to upload an update, but no go. Thanks so much for helping me out in this dastardly internet connection boondoggle I am fighting, Avis!
Here is the update I have been trying to post:
8:00 pm – another Monterey Crew just came through going down to the fire. If it is all over but the shouting, what’s that about?
7:15 pm – I have been trying to upload a photo for over a couple hours and no go. Plus I can’t update while I do that. So photos later. The Gabilan Hotshots came through around 6, and the Monterey Hotshots around 7 pm. Much of BSVFB is on its way home, Air support has pretty much ceased, but the word I have is that the fire is or will be knocked down by sunset. Mop-up tomorrow, in all likelihood. No worries from my end.
Good luck to you all with (of course) fire suppression; but also with internet connections (we all need a world out there, even if we may choose to duck it upon occasion) & … whatever. Very windy up here in Santa Cruz.
Glad to hear you are safe 🙂
Damn…looks like the fire season starts right on the Solstice this year. Thanks for the *usual* great posted info Kate. I may be far away, but Big Sur is my heart & soul’s home, so I am grateful to know what’s going on there. Everyone be safe….
Hard Rock’s gate is still there?
Whether Hard Rock’s or a replacement by the USFS, there is a barrier so no vehicles can go down.
Great reporting Kate. Very nice images.
Thanks, Mike. Latest report and map from District Ranger indicate that indeed it started not too far down the blocked off driveway, just below Plaskett Ridge Rd. The driveway is reached by a short spur off of Plaskett.
Great report…I love your writing style
FYI: Gabilan crew is not a hotshot crew, they are a crew of inmate firefighters, they are considered a type 1 crew but not hotshots. The monterey crews are type 2 handcrews and are not hotshots either, they were hotshots years ago but are not now.