An hour later and that plume from the south eastern edge is almost gone, and we’ve got this one from the south western edge. A burn out operation at the Golden Stairs south of Pico Blanco, maybe??
5:15 pm – current photo from my place:
4:30 – here is a visual of the area of the mandatory evac for Tassajara and parts of Cachagua (warning to the rest of Cachagua) Thanks to Lucas Ryan:
3:30 pm – A backfiring operation in the area of the Upper Preserve was successful to create that coveted “black line” of safety.
5 ATs out of Paso are on a flight path directly over my house. Yesterday there were 8 and several of them made their last run at dusk. Go pilots!! But put your safety first, please.
3:30 pm – from the 1215 hours MODIS flight sent by Jim Kasson:
3:00 pm – Evacuation Center reopened at CMS; Those on Evacuation Warnings in Cachagua and Tassajara, pay attention for the issuance of a Mandatory, if the need arises.
1:30 pm – EVACUATION CENTER AT CMS RE-OPENS
11:00 am – South Side of Pico Blanco facing Post Summit last night. Photo by Matt Peterson or Derric Oliver
10:00 am – Also from Cachuagua as a result of a back burn being undertaken:
From Cachagua Fire:
Cachagua Fire Chief Curry, along with Battalion Chief del Valle, are working with the Soberanes Fire Incident Management Team and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office to hereby notify all residents of the Cachagua Fire Protection District that an evacuation warning is being issued.
Residents should know that the fire is approaching the boundary of the district and firing operations will begin today or tomorrow.
Smoke and flames will likely be visible within the Cachagua Fire Protection District as part of this operation. Smoke can be detrimental to the health of the young, old, and those with breathing or heart issues.
You may have received additional information via reverse 911 or from local media sources. We want to emphasize that this is an evacuation warning.
This is NOT a mandatory evacuation order.
For more information, you can contact Chief Curry
10:00 am – From San Clemente Rancho about 2 hours ago:
“To the south, the fire made amazing progress to the east yesterday burning through both the Big Pines and LIttle Pines areas of the Ventana…several miles at least! It is now backing down Blue Rock Ridge towards us (and the Cachugua).
To the West the Fire is making its way towards us via Ponciano Ridge and the South fork of the Black Rock Creek. It is now back out of the forest on our neighbors (the Lange’s & BLM) property.
Cal Fire has laid miles of hose line on the primary firebreak that Hank & I made but we still don’t have the air support everyone would like…the winds are predicted to shift, turning the smoke, not the fire) but that might come too late to help. Going to be a long next few days.”
Also hearing Evac warnings are to be given out to Cachuagua today.
****************
10:00 am – From Richard Cordova, Cal Fire PIO this morning.
Mount Manuel backfire planned for Monday, August 1, 2016
Cal Fire is planning a backfire on the eastern slope of Mount Manuel for Monday, August 1, if conditions are good. They are completing the dozer lines and advance work on this today. The plan is to back burn this section and join it with the larger fire. The timing is dependent on the weather. It may start in the morning but it could also be delayed until any time they determine the ideal conditions. Plan accordingly
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7:00 am – West Side of Pico Blanco, photo by Jen Smith
Photos by the Amazing Kodiak Greenwood of Pico Blanco and plume in background. Pico Blanco in this first photo is in the lower right. The burned ridge to the right and behind Pico Blanco is Skinner Ridge. The smoke-free mountain behind Skinner Ridge is Mt. Carmel. The big plume is rising from the Danish Creek watershed and Blue Rock Ridge (overlooking Cachagua) Per our resident expert, Keith Vandervere.
Per Keith, the one above is looking from Pico Blanco down Dani Ridge (with retardant stripe) toward the confluence of the forks of the Little Sur and the ocean. The smaller plume of smoke is coming from the burn out operation at the top of Serra Grade on the Old Coast Rd.
The second is of Moon’s property. Looks to me like most of the structures are still in the green and probably survived. Moon’s road is visible at the bottom. The summit of Serra Grade is on the right. From this photo I’m not sure if this burning is really part of the deliberate burn out or not.
6:00 am – Dawn has finally arrived and I can visually see what is happening. No plumes, smoke is clear – fog socking in most of the coast, but doesn’t look to be very high. I have had an hour to check in, catch up on mail, and the like, and now ready for coffee. It really is a nice day to sit and watch the sunrise from this amazing perch and enjoy a brief respite of calm before the frenetic day of fire reporting begins. Remember to take a moment for yourself, take a nap, if you can. They can do wonders to rejuvenate you. Current IR Topo map puts fire at 38.007 acres. Lucas is busy putting together our maps for us.
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Same link as the last few days, but map is updated with 7/31 IR data.
https://mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?t=t4&q=mymap,1eaA80_Dj5DeT45pDOL7E8clgd-Y
Adam's link is to a great IR topo that can easily be zoomed to check on specific locations. Great resource. Thanks, Adam.
bigsurkate
Good morning, Kate. Bit of a fright last night in Jamesburg when our usually empty roads were filled with firemen and trucks. Yellow signs posted for each residence. Smoke unbearable. From our hilltop we saw flames on the Padres ridges that burst and smolderd. But then around 10pm the wind shifted, temperature dropped, smoke dispersed. Woke this morning to a blue sky and fresh air!!! Not sure how everyone did last night but here it's a major reprieve. Look forward to seeing what the maps have to say while I join you in a cup of coffee. Take care everyone.
Mouth of CV here. Woke up around 4 am to the strongest smell of smoke we have had, which is probably not much compared to a lot of areas.
Hard to tell fog from smoke here right now.
No winds today please!! Let them attack from all directions!!
Blue sky's over DP36 can see the thick smoke over Blue Rock Ridge seems to be creeping back this way now.
Yes, blue skies and fresh air, regenerating while waiting for the expected onslaught.
I am on the upper part of Tassajara Road, between the Forest boundary and Zen Center coach station, getting a bit concerned about NOT having seen any firefighting equipment, yellow signs, or firefighters. Maybe that is a good sign ... others' need for protection being greater right now. I pray we will receive the same level of excellent protection others have received so far.
Is there another Multi Agency meeting planned which has to do with Jamesburg, including upper Tassajara Road? We are just 2 miles as the bird flies from Hennickson Trail. That happens to be the distance one of these eager embers flew during this fire (as per a fire person's answer to my question after CMS meet last week). There is radio talk of backfiring from Hennickson Trail.
Meanwhile, all remains quiet up here for now ... consciously appreciating what I see around me, knowing it may not be here tomorrow.
Going to Cachgua CERT meet later today.
Thanks Kate for all you do.
Adam, awesome map, thank you!
Do you happen to know what the new blue lines on the map indicate?
Dozer lines? Current expected containment lines? Thank you!
MT,
Black lines are completed Dozer lines and Blue lines are proposed Dozer lines, but they may not be current. Go to the Dozer maps for the most current info.
831-204-0446 -CalFire direct info line to operator.
The more people that call and inquire about meeting for deeper in the valley i.e. Cachagua, Tassajara and Jamesburg areas the sooner we may be able to have one out here more logistically logical for us.
Thank you Kate for all the info you and your team have provided throughout these hard times for so many. And Of course all the fire crews and personnel involved in this disastrous situation for so many families.
Sunshine, blue skies reminds me that there is hope! As if for a moment, not a worry in the world...how it can lift ones spirit! Thank you, Lord!
Thank you for the updates everyone, I just walked down and see that we also have yellow cards posted, dated yesterday, on Cachagua.
Lots of activity on the road yesterday, water trucks coming and going and crews, assuming headed towards the DPs, on Cachagua. It was a welcome sight!
Continued prayers for the protection and safety over the firefighters, of our communities and comfort for those who have had losses!
Very heavy smoke and terrible air quality at The Crossroads in Carmel, and here in the Highlands right now. By far worse than it has been since the fire began 10 days ago. Hopefully it is being caused by back burning and not more serious fires that might have taken up with the heavy winds yesterday afternoon!!!