UPDATE: 8-19-2020
The fast-moving Dolan Ridge Fire located in the Big Sur Region has triggered road closures on Hwy 1, preventing access to many state parks in the Big Sur area.
Due to the emergency situation caused by the fire and resulting concerns for the safety and health of our State Parks visitors, the following parks – including all campgrounds, day use areas, and hiking trails are being closed to visitors until further notice:
• John Little State Natural Reserve• Limekiln State Park• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park• Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park• Andrew Molera State Park• Point Sur State Historic Park• Garrapata State Park• Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Visitors to these Monterey District California State Parks are advised to respect the emergency services and public safety efforts in the area. Please check the park unit websites to find out when the Big Sur State Park units will re-open at a future time.
Day: August 19, 2020
Dolan Fire Photo Essay by Brendon Shave, 8/19/20
Highway One Closure notice
CALTRANS DISTRICT 5 SIGALERT
Date/Time: Wednesday, August 19 at 8:53 AM
Location: Highway 1 near Big Sur in Monterey County.
Description of Incident
Highway 1 is closed from Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County to Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Monterey County due to a brush fire.
Motorists may use US Highway 101 for north/south thru travel.
Motorists should be aware of law enforcement and other emergency responders, including Caltrans in this area.
It is not known when Highway 1 in this area will re-open.
CHP Traffic Incident Information Page: http://cad.chp.ca.gov
Carmel Fire, Day 2, 8/19/20
7:35 PM Sheriff Scanner (unconfirmed): Sheriff Rescue will be moving to Los Tulares for evacuation warning (this must be for the River Fire). Stone Pine for Carmel Fire.
Carmel Fire – Evacuation Order for Cachagua Road north to Klondike Canyon Road on East Carmel Valley Road to include Klondike Canyon Road, and all roads and communities north east and south west of East Carmel Valley Road: The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has issued an Evacuation Order from Cachagua Road north to Klondike Canyon Road on East Carmel Valley Road to include Klondike Canyon Road, and all roads and communities north east and south west of East Carmel Valley Road. Leave the area immediately.
7:25 PM Sheriff Scanner (unconfirmed): Sheriff Rescue will be moving to Sleepy Hollow for evacuation warning (this must be for the Carmel Fire from Buck Mountain direction). Sheriff Rescue anticipates a long night.
Update 6:52 pm: The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation warning for areas west of River Road extending to Carmel Valley Road. West of River Road south from Gonzales River Road to Puma Road. East of Carmel Valley Road from south of Tassajara Road to Finch Creek.
10:40 PM Infrared Map Outline from today’s fire in Cachagua:
Click here for a more detailed image: Carmel Fire Outline 08192020 and Carmel Fire Outline 2 08192020
Evacuation Map as of 8:10 PM:
Updated Evacuation Map can be found here:
(Red is Order, Yellow is Warning)
CalFire Update 7:00 PM: Carmel Fire at 2,150 Acres, 0% contained.
6:55 PM Sheriff Scanner (unconfirmed): Sheriff Rescue will be moving to the Village Ranches/ Klondike Canyon for evacuation warning (this must be for River Fire).
5:15 PM Sheriff Scanner (unconfirmed): Fire running up a drainage towards Summerhill, Fire is burning past Trampa Canyon, and likely to Tassajara Road.
7:00 PM from above Stonepine:
Carmel Fire – Evacuation Order for Cachagua Rd, Tassajara Rd, and East of Carmel Valley Rd 2:13 PM: The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has issued an Evacuation Order for the following areas: Cahcagua Road from Asoledo Drive to Tassajara Road to include Trampa Canyon Road and tributaries. Areas West of Tassajara Road to Miller Canyon not including Miller Canyon. Tassajara Road from Miller Canyon to East Carmel Valley Road to include Chew’s Ridge, Kincannon Road, Lambert Flat, Parrot Ranch Road and tributaries. Tassajara Road west to Miller Canyon not including Miller Canyon. Areas east of East Carmel Valley Road at Tassajara Road to Cahoon Ranch Road to include Martin Road and Cahoon Ranch Road. Leave the area immediately.
7:30 PM Google Earth with VIIRS satellite imagery looking towards East Carmel Valley:
7:15 PM Google Earth with VIIRS satellite imagery looking towards Buck Mountain and Old San Clemente Dam:
2PM Media Update (starts at 1:30):
2:15 PM: Fire made a big push up a drainage, they’re “loosing structures” at Sky Ranch.
2:05 PM: Asoleado area, a couple of structures are engulfed in flames. One Sheriff Rescue is blocked by fire. Also, Fire (River?) went through White Mountain at Ardeas Grade, and East to Sheep Camp.
1:15 PM: Reports that Carmel Middle School will shelter evacuees for Carmel and River fires.
Per Sheriff Scanner (unconfirmed) 1:13 PM: Requesting CHP for hard closure at CV Road and Tassajara. Active fire at Comsat. Asoleado evacuations underway.
Cachagua Fire Department Update:
12:36 pm: crews are addressing active fire near Asoleado with potential for Trampa Canyon. Structure protection crews are being deployed.
1:02 pm. Some concern is being expressed for active fire in the Asoleado area with potential to impact Trampa Canyon. We are monitoring the situation closely.
**CORRECTED** Carmel Fire – Evacuation Orders Overnight 12:12 PM Due to the dynamic situation of the Carmel Fire, Deputies issued an evacuation order of Zone 3 and a portion of Zone 4. Community members were notified in person during the night time hours. The evacuation orders are as follows: Zone 3: Cachagua Road from Summerhill Road to Asoleado Road to include Asoleado Road and all tributaries, Comstat Road, Nason Road and all tributaries south to Los Padres Reservoir. EVACUATION ORDER
Bruce Dormody sent his brother Eric this photo around 2PM, showing the Carmel Fire (on the Left) going down towards the Old San Clemente Dam.
6:15 PM Update: Additional VIIRS and MODIS satellite detection from Google Earth. Infrared Plane spotted doing patterns over the fire areas. As always, there could be false satellite readings. See Important caveats note below.
2:10 PM Update: River Fire East looks like it’s encroaching (unconfirmed) on Carmel Valley Road at Tassajara Road, Also, the two heads of the River Fire East seem to be merging together. Note: this could be false satellite readings. See Important caveats note below.
Carmel Fire update (at 1:45) video from CalFire can be found here 10:30 AM:
Spanish here:
From Happy Girl Kitchen Co. at 7:30 AM:
From Jack Galante at 7AM:
Visibility from above Stonepine at 10AM:
Air quality now considered Hazardous in Carmel Valley Village:
Carmel Fire 8-19-20 8:10 AM Update:
Carmel Fire shown next to the River Fire and Dolan Fire:
Carmel Fire showing the latest VIIRS satellite detections as of 8:10 AM:
National interagency Fire Center Map can be found here: https://maps.nwcg.gov/sa/#/%3F/EditLayerSatelliteFireDetections/36.4461/-121.7205/13
Important caveats: Please note that the squares on the heat detection maps represent the expected margin of error, not the size of the area burned. In other words, the detection could have come from anywhere within the square. Also be aware that false detections do sometimes occur. An outlying or “over the line” heat detection is not, by itself, a confirmation that there is fire in the area indicated. In addition, the satellites do not detect heat everywhere that fire exists. Creeping, backing or smoldering fire is often not detected. Finally, the detections are only snapshots of moments in time. Flare ups that occur before or after a satellite pass may be entirely missed.
Operations Map link here:
Briefing Map here:
Post will be updated with more info.
River Fire, Day 4, 8/19/20
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has changed the Evacuation Warning to an Evacuation Order for all areas of San Benancio Rd between Troy Ln and Coral De Cielo Rd, to include Coral De Cielo Rd, Tiera Vista Ln, and Lucy Ln. Leave the area immediately. Evacuate west on San Benancio Rd to Highway 68.
River Fire – Evacuation Warning for areas west of River Road extending east to Carmel Valley Road and south from Gonzales river Road to Puma Road. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation warning for areas west of River Road extending to Carmel Valley Road. West of River Road south from Gonzales River Road to Puma Road. East of Carmel Valley Road from south of Tassajara Road to Finch Creek.
Updated Evacuation Map can be found here:
(Red is Order, Yellow is Warning)
2PM Media Update (starts at 1:30):
1:15 PM: Reports that Carmel Middle School will shelter evacuees for Carmel and River fires.
River Fire update video from CalFire can be found here 10:30 AM:
Spanish here:
River Fire – Evacuation Order for Las Palmas Parkway, Ranchito Drive, Indian Springs Road, Berry Drive, Enos Drive, Redding Drive, and Belmont Circle 11:09 AM: The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has changed the Evacuation Warning to an Evacuation Order for the following areas: South of River Road from Tara Drive to Pine Canyon Road to include all roads off of: Las Palmas Parkway, Ranchito Drive, Indian Springs Road, Berry Drive, Enos Drive, Redding Drive, and Belmont Circle. Leave the area immediately. Evacuate to River Road.
River Fire – Evacuation Warning for North of Highway 68 from San Benancio Road east to include all Roads off of Portola Drive to Veronica Drive/Estoque Place 10:43 AM: The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has issued an Evacuation Warning for areas North of Highway 68 from San Benancio Road east to include all Roads off of Portola Drive to Veronica Drive/Estoque Place.
River Fire – Evacuation Order 10:04 AM: The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has changed the Evacuation Warning to an Evacuation Order for the following areas: Communities within the north of San Benancio Rd, West of Troy Lane, Southeast of Harper Canyon Rd to include Harper Canyon Road, Weather Rock Way, Rimrock Canyon Road. Leave the area immediately. Evacuate north on San Benancio Rd to Highway 68.
Per Scanner Traffic (unconfirmed) 10:10 AM: Possible evacuations for Harper Canyon
River Fire 8-19-20 8 AM Update
#RiverFire off Pine Canyon and River Rd, east of Salinas in Monterey county remains 10,672 acres and 7% contained. Unified command: CAL FIRE BEU and Monterey County Sheriff’s Department.
From the CalFire Website:
River fire shown next to the Carmel Fire:
River Fire showing Infrared Heat Perimeter and the latest VIIRS satellite detections:
Important caveats: Please note that the squares on the heat detection maps represent the expected margin of error, not the size of the area burned. In other words, the detection could have come from anywhere within the square. Also be aware that false detections do sometimes occur. An outlying or “over the line” heat detection is not, by itself, a confirmation that there is fire in the area indicated. In addition, the satellites do not detect heat everywhere that fire exists. Creeping, backing or smoldering fire is often not detected. Finally, the detections are only snapshots of moments in time. Flare ups that occur before or after a satellite pass may be entirely missed.
Also be aware that yellow squares disappear from the map after 6 days. These are not maps of the area burned since the fire began, just maps of where heat has been detected during the past week.
National interagency Fire Center Map can be found here: https://maps.nwcg.gov/sa/#/%3F/EditLayerSatelliteFireDetections/36.5964/-121.701/12
Post will be updated with more info.
Dolan Fire, Day 2, 8/19/20
USFS Inciweb report on Dolan Fire:
Incident Overview
Image options: [ Full Size ]
The Dolan Fire started at 8:15pm on Tuesday, August 18, 2020. The location is 6 miles north of Limekiln State Park, 10 miles south of Big Sur. The fire actively burned throughout the night, running through Hot Springs Canyon and is now burning in Big Creek Canyon.The east side of Dolan Canyon was evacuated. Highway 1 is closed between Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Ragged Point. The fire is burning in the Ventana Wilderness. It is currently at 2,500 acres. The cause is unknown and under investigation. There are 50 personnel on the fire. Los Padres is in Unified Command with the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cal Fire BEU. This fire is putting out a lot of smoke so the public is strongly advised to avoid this area.
Incident Information
Basic Information
| Current as of | 8/19/2020, 2:01:19 PM |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Unknown |
| Date of Origin | Tuesday August 18th, 2020 approx. 08:15 PM |
| Location | 6 miles North of Limekiln State Park, 10 miles south of Big Sur |
| Incident Commander | Pete Harris,US Forest Service, Incident Commander |
| Incident Description | Wildfire |
| Coordinates | 36.123 latitude, -121.602 longitude |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 50 |
| Size | 2,500 Acres |
| Fuels Involved | Chaparral (6 feet)Brush (2 feet)Timber (Grass and Understory) |
| Significant Events | Extreme Long-range spotting, short-range spotting, running |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Full suppresion |
| Projected Incident Activity | Fire is burning in the Ventana wilderness. Fire is moving up and down canyons, spotting and making erratic runs, evacuations with structure protection on the North and South of fire. Fire will continue to burn in the Ventana Wilderness. Area tends to burn actively in the evening hours driven by mid-slope thermal weather activity.Forestcast for hot and dry weather. Anticipate Fire to continue to actively burn, spot, run and increase in size. |
| Remarks | Concern of fire movement to Highway 1. Presently Hwy. 1 is closed from Pfeiffer State Park atthe North to Ragged Point at the South.Communities of Lucia, Partington Ridge, Big Creek Reserve and Camboa Point face potentialevacuation. |
Current Weather
| Weather Concerns | Continued Hot and Dry weather pattern. Potential for previous days lightning to produce new starts in the area. |
Most recent satellite, courtesy of John Chestnut:
DolanFire southern road closure moved to Ragged Point, northern is still at JPBurns.
DolanFire est 2500 acres, actively burning in all directions. Evacs on east side of Dolan Cyn. Hwy 1 closed on the south at Lucia & north at Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP. @LosPadresNF in Unified Cmd with @CALFIREBEU, @MCoSheriff & Big Sur Vol Fire Brigade.
Just got an update from one of the residents at Dolan:
“evacuating went well. things were so fast moving. i was lucky to have help and get my important things and make it out around midnight, but it was fast moving, downhill with no marine layer to slow it down. high likelihood all structures east of the highway were lost in the Santa Lucia Ranch.”
Provided by John Chestnut:
Important caveats: Please note that the squares on the heat detection maps represent the expected margin of error, not the size of the area burned. In other words, the detection could have come from anywhere within the square. Also be aware that false detections do sometimes occur. An outlying or “over the line” heat detection is not, by itself, a confirmation that there is fire in the area indicated. In addition, the satellites do not detect heat everywhere that fire exists. Creeping, backing or smoldering fire is often not detected. Finally, the detections are only snapshots of moments in time. Flare ups that occur before or after a satellite pass may be entirely missed.
7:45 am — Dolan is about 2500 acres. Highway One is closed from JPBurns to Lucia. Spotter plane just flew over, evacuations of east side of highway and, I am told, Esalen last night. Fire established in Big Creek.
7 am — Looks like the fire is fully entrenched in Big Creek Canyon, the dozers were sent home as the fire is in the Ventana Wilderness, and Connie McCoy walked down the Hot Springs Canyon about 4:30 am and took these photos from Highway One. Here, it is so dark with the smoke, I have to have my lights on inside. Eerie.
Maps showing the extent of the fire early this am. Made it to Big Creek.
Big Creek, Circle M, Esalen, and some homes were evacuated last night/early this am. I had word early this am that 4 civilians were dug in and protecting their homes.
Will be setting up a separate post for the Carmel Fire, which like this one, we will be updating through out the day.