7:00 pm UPDATE AND EVENING WRAP-UP – From Kathleen Lee of Supervisor Potter’s Office:
Kate,
Sorry this is so late, I got stuck at the community meeting dealing with several time sensitive issues. Before I leave the Valley, here are the basics.
843 acres burned at 74% containment. 879 personnel on fire. Highway One remains open with sporadic traffic controls when necessary.
Hoping for full containment as early as late Thursday if lines pass their wind testing tonight. Winds are expected to peak between 12-5 am. Embers may travel up to 3/4 mile, so residents are asked to be vigilant. Crews will be mopping up lines on Division A and Division Zulu. Pfeiffer Ridge will continue to be patrolled for flareups tonight and additional crews along Sycamore Cyn. Division C is all black line and Division Whiskey is mostly buttoned up.
BSFB working embedded with USFS teams to patrol ridges and IC appreciates local knowledge.
Red Cross shut down at Fernwood as of 5 pm, will operate mobile units that will come to those in need of aid, including mental health or housing assistance. 831-320-9989
County Mental Health Crisis team is activated, contact the Health Center for
details.
County will be doing damage assessments tomorrow to determine when residents will be allowed back to the ridges. Planning, Building and Environmental Health staff will be evaluating each property for structural safety as well as water and septic functionality. IC Nunez said it is likely to be up to 48 hours before residents will be allowed back onto the ridges.
There was no updated structure loss numbers provided as the IC wants to give out accurate information.
Butch reiterated CPOA ability to provide assistance if people have list housing. NRCS and RCD staff in Big Sur to start work on post fire remediation/erosion projects.
State Dept of Insurance Investigators in Big Sur to help people from being victims if insurance fraud. 1-800-927-HELP for assistance with vetting insurance and public adjusters. I have a flyer that I will work to get posted to County site and shared with you.
I think that is the meeting in a nutshell. Let me know if you have questions.
Kathleen
Sent from my iPhone
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Red Cross to Close Client Service Center at Fernwood Resort Big Sur tonight
CARMEL, CA (December 18, 2013) – The American Red Cross Monterey Bay Area Chapter will close the Client Service Center located at the Fernwood Resort Big Sur at 5 p.m. tonight but will continue to provide client services to evacuated residents with two Red Cross response vehicles in the area on Thursday and Friday.
Local volunteers began working closely with local officials on Monday to help those affected by the Pfeiffer Wildfire in Big Sur, California. Volunteers provided food, emotional support, and information to those who had to evacuate their homes. Trained Red Cross caseworkers met with those affected by the fire to address their individual needs and provide services and other information.
IF YOU NEED HELP
Two Red Cross response vehicles will be in the Big Sur area to provide client services and resources on Thursday and Friday. Affected residents, who need assistance, can call the 24-hour Red Cross Client Assistance hotline at 831-320-9989 to speak with a Red Cross caseworker.
Also, Red Cross has indicated that they can help with a Monty’s rent for those who lost their homes.
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Incident: Pfeiffer Fire, started on December 16, 2013
Location: Pfeiffer Ridge Area, Big Sur, CA
Agency Jurisdiction: USDA Forest Service.
Cooperating Agencies: Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade, CalFire, Monterey County Sheriff, OES, CHP, Red Cross, Cal Trans
Current Size: 769 Acres* Cause: Under Investigation
*(Increase in acreage is a result of updated mapping)
Containment: 20% Est. Containment: 12-20-2013 at 6:00 pm
Current Resources: Crews: 29 Engines: 51 Helicopters-9 Air tankers: 5 are Available Dozers: 2
Total Personnel: 879
Last Night’s Activities: The fire was most active along the southern perimeter of the fire bordered by Sycamore Road and the fire continued to creep slowly on the eastern flank along Highway 1.
Current Situation: Today’s crews will take advantage of more favorable weather ahead of predicted low front for tonight, to complete and connect containment lines on the southwestern, southern and the eastern flanks of the fire’s perimeter.
The weather front that is expected to move over the fire late tonight will bring with it a shift in winds, from the southwest to the northwest, increasing and gusting up to 25 mph.
A preliminary assessment was able to confirm that 24 structures were saved and 22 residences were destroyed by the fire.
Evacuations: Evacuations of residences in Pfeiffer Ridge Community from Sycamore Road on the south to Clear Ridge on the north, to Highway 1 on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west continue.
An Evacuation Watch was issued this afternoon by Monterey County Sheriff the area west of Highway 1 from Fernwood Resort to River Inn. An Evacuation Watch is issued as a warning to people within the affected area that a threat of life and property exists. People issued this type of warning are NOT required to evacuate.
Community Meeting: Scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 pm. at the Big Sur Station, Highway 1, Big Sur, CA
Road Closures: Sycamore Road, Pfeiffer Ridge Road, and the road from River Inn to intersection with Pfeiffer Ridge Road. HIGHWAY 1 remains OPEN! Situational Awareness while driving is encouraged due to increase in emergency vehicles accessing the fire area. BE SAFE!
Closures: Molera State Park is closed.
Additional Information For:
Evacuee Assistance: Red Cross has established an Information Center (831-320-9989 ) for evacuees at Fernwood Resort, 47200 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA
Big Sur Community Hotline: 831-667-2679, hours 9:30am-7:30pm. Open through the weekend
Air Quality: For information on Air Quality go to http://www.mbuapch.org .
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Here is information to share from Office of Emergency Services:
Conditions permitting, county damage assesment teams will go with fire officers into burned areas tomorrow, Wednesday, house-by-house to determine safety as well as inspect water and septic systems. These are staff from Environmental Health as well as Planning departments. (note from Kate – received an email from Aegnus that the county was expediting the permit process for those who lost homes, and that Arden, who worked closely with the County for homes lost in the Basin Fire, is again working closely with them during this process.)
From the SPCA of Monterey County – SPCA folks will be at the General Store starting at about noon Wednesday with dog and cat food for those who had to evacuate with their pets but without supplies.
Maia Carroll
Please share with all that the county’s crisis counseling team is available to those who are experiencing stress and need assistance to handle this crisis. This service is available to both citizens and first responders. The counseling contact line is 831-755-4111.
Maia Carroll
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