Categories: 2012 Fire Season

Wildfire – SLO Co – Bitterroot & 46

Final acreage, 167 acres.

4:00 pm – 50 acres.

3:00 pm – 15 acres, one structure threatened.

AA requesting two air additional tankers. Potential for 100 acres unless it jumps Bitterwater Road, then potential for 500 – 600 acres. 2 dozers, 2 airtankers, 6 Type 3 Engines, 4 crewsalready on scene.

This is all according to Wildland fire. This is a a SLO Cal Fire show, but USFS is sending a helicopter to assist.

bigsurkate

Appointed appellate counsel for indigent defendants (retired.) I have lived in Big Sur since 1984, first on the north coast, and on the South Coast since 1989.

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  • Hello,
    we are visiting from coastal sonoma county and we have a fire ring in our yard that we use often. I've been unable to get any info from the forest service and no luck contacting anyone in person about fire weather/restrictions/permits this weekend. Perhaps you can tell me if i can have a fire at any campsites off of coast ridge road. We are heading into the area tomorrow and plan to camp or just sleep in the car. any help would be appreciated. Also any info on how to get a person on the phone from the forest service would be awesome. thanks

    • There are signs posted as you enter ALL USFS roads, and other places along the highway, NO CAMPFIRES permitted.

    • Oh, and how to get someone in person? Best chance is M-F, 9-5 in King City office. On weekends? Not a chance!

  • Thanks Kate. I don't get why they offer fire permits and have campgrounds if fires are never allowed..in winter perhaps ? Well just sleep in the car at a turnout. Anyway thanks, I really like your site

    • They issue fire permits for when conditions allow campfires. Outside of DEVELOPED campgrounds, I.e. Plaskett, Kirk Creek, Pfeiffer Big Sur, Ponderosa, Nacimiento,, people build their own camp site anywhere they want, and these isolated sites are an extreme fire hazard when it is this hot and this dry. Then permits are invalid. The Nacimiento River down from our mtns on the eastern side is dried up - a very rare event.

      Thanks for asking.

      For a little more explanation - Campfires usually are okay in winter, spring, and early summer, but rarely in August, September, or October. So, generally 9 months out of the year it is allowed. You can plan accordingly, but keep in mind July is a crap shoot - early, they might be allowed. Also fire restrictions go into effect forest-wide, I.e from LA up to here, not just here, depending on the moisture levels in the fuels. Once it gets too low, no fires until after the rains start. Hope that helps.

      bigsurkate, on a mountain top in Big Sur

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