Mill Fire — Sunset smoke
Day: July 31, 2019
Mill Fire, Day 2, 7/31/19
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Andrew Madsen
Twitter: @LosPadresNF
Fire Update
U.S. Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region
Los Padres National Forest
6750 Navigator Way
Goleta, CA 93117
MILL FIRE
July 31, 2019
AFTERNOON UPDATE
Date Started:July 30, 2019Cause: Under InvestigationTotal Acres:280Containment:10%
Injuries to Date: 1Structures Damaged/Destroyed:0Total Personnel:482
Assigned Resources:
Crews: 14Engines: 30Helicopters:5Air Tankers: 4
Evacuations: 0
Current:
The Mill Fire started July 30, 2019, at 5:36 AM near Lyons Creek along Nacimiento-Fergusson Road above California State Highway 1 on the Monterey Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest. The fire is currently estimated to have burned 280 acres east of State Highway 1 and west of Cone Peak Road and is 10 percent contained. The fire is burning in tall, dry grass beds and becoming established in heavy fuels. There is no present threat to communities, structures or the public.
A full response including engines, hand crews and air support is actively suppressing the fire. Crews workedthroughout the night in steep, rugged terrain constructing containment lines. The east and west flanks of the fire have stabilized but the head of the fire continues to burn to the northeast.
Hand crews will continue suppression work today in tandem with air support to prevent the fire from burning further into the Ventana Wilderness. Where direct action is safe and will prove successful, crews will be using direct fireline suppression activities. In other areas, aircraft will be used to hold the fire in check. In some areas of the Mill Fire it is unsafe for firefighters to take direct action.
Road/Trail Closures:
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road between Highway 1 and Fort Hunter Liggett; Cone Peak Road; South Coast Ridge Road between Chalk Peak and Nacimiento-Fergusson Road; Vicente Flat and Mill Creek Trails
For additional Fire Information call Monterey Ranger District (831) 385-5434
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3 pm — It is very quiet this afternoon. There had been a lot of aircraft flying when I laid down for a nap, but quiet, now. No visible smoke. I think we turned the corner on this.
As of 11:38 am LPNF posted this: “#MillFire has burned approximately 300 acres. Overnight it chewed through the retardant line. More than 300 firefighters on scene. @LosPadresNF will be ordering a team to assist with suppression.”
Also, there is finally an inciweb post on this fire, which they hope to have contained by tomorrow 11 pm. This is what it says: “The Mill Fire was reported at 5:36 a.m. on July 30, 2019 on Mill Creek, north west of the Ventana Wilderness off of Nacimiento Ferguson Road. As of this morning, 280 acres have burned with 10% containment. The fire is burning in chaparral, timber and tall grass. It is burning in steep and rugged terrain. Currently, there is no threat to communities, structures or to the public. Access into the area via roads and trails has been closed off.
There are currently 482 resources assigned to the fire, including:
Crews – 14
Engines – 30
Type 1 Helicopters – 3
Type 2 Helicopters – 2
Tankers – various
Lead planes – 2
Air Attack – 7”
11:28 am —
Current photo (10:55 am)
9:15: There she goes!
8:45 am — fire is kicking up. Cone Peak Rd. is threatened. Here is what it looks like now. BTW, got the time changed on my DSLR so it is now accurate to a minute or two.
8:30 am — This morning is starting out quiet, but no photos, yet. One big concern today is that the fire is pushing up against Cone Peak Rd. today, so that will be the area to watch. I may take a trip out to Prewitt later today, depending on what I see and hear. Gathering intel now.