I have been trying to get the maps up since 11, but am running into all sorts of technical difficulties. Let me try again. And don’t forget the Community Meeting tonight at 6 pm at the Cachagua Store.
And finally, for now, the weather and fire behavior discussions;
Skee Stanley, formerly of Cachagua Fire, sent me this interesting report on a fire on the edge of Southern Monterey County and Northern San Luis Obispo County back in 1960. Historical perspective is always fascinating to me, and I hope you will find it interesting. I thought this would be a nice time to take a break from 44 days of reporting on Soberanes, which is over 95,000 acres at the moment. I’ll post my usual fire maps later today. Note the discussion at the end about the Public Information Officer for the Weferling Forest Fire. Thanks, Skee.
Okay, I admit…I took the day off. Two of my girlfriends were back in town, and I hadn’t seen one in a year and a half, another in over 6 months. I did my best to stay off line, and did a damn fine job … But now I have to catch up.
The USFS closed the forest down here, sometime between 3-6 pm. Despite the closure, I had to stop and ask one group to put out their camp fire. They were very cooperative. I had to stop and tell 3 other groups the forest was closed and suggested they drink all the beer they wanted tonight, forego coffee in the am, and leave as soon as they got up and packed. 
Here is the official notice:
Notice anything “odd” about the above map? This puts “Gorda” where Pacific Valley is – north of Plaskett Creek Campground. In reality, Gorda is 5 miles south of the campground.
I have to say, I am so happy to see that you kept up the information flow and posted comments, and information while I was gone today. I have been asked to be interviewed by a number of magazines and radio shows that express their awe of what this Big Sur Community is about. They get it. It is not me … It is us. We work together, we help each other, we keep one another informed. Bigsurkate is a community effort, and no one “gets that” more than I do. I feel so honored to be a part of this wonderful network. We are setting an example for so many people, agencies, and organizations. I hope you are all proud of us. I am.
And here is an impressive plume from behind Partington, taken by Marcus Foster this afternoon:
John Chesnut’s Map:
And here are this morning’s maps. Here is the distance between the Chimney and Soberanes, now down to 37 miles. Chimney is 91% contained this am, however.
You can see the results of yesterday’s firing out operation past Michael’s Hill, as well as more growth to the south. On the east, a couple new spots toward Miller’s Canyon.
There doesn’t appear to be any change in the South Ops Map, and indeed it is left blank for the date, but I’ll include it anyway.
And finally, here are the weather and fire behavior discussions:
9:30 am – Here is the most recent fire progression map:
6:30 am – Here are today’s maps. You will note that the fire jumped the containment line at Cold Springs, north of Michael’s Hill, out near the end of Partington Road. My information is that that happened late yesterday afternoon, early evening. My understanding is that they will be hitting it hard from the air as soon as possible.
Fire and Weater Prediction Discussions:
2:30 – this is an early photo, fire has spread since this was taken. Tankers are on load and hold right now, so it’s looking like they might have a handle on this one. I hope so, anyway.
1:50 pm – It started on Hell Hill, and has caused the closure of Lake Nacimiento RD.
Per CHP:
2:01 PM 8 [23] [Notification] [CHP]-SLOSO INQ WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED TO CLOSE THE RDWY
1:53 PM 7 [21] [Notification] [CHP]-CAL FIRE VIA LL / I/C ON FIRE CONFIRM / CLOSE NACI LAKE X CHIMNEY ROCK and NACI LAKE RD X HERITAGE / ALL DIRECTIONS
1:48 PM 6 [20] B9-004B AT G14/LAKE NACIMIENTO RD – SHUTTING IT DOWN
1:40 PM 5 [11] [Notification] [CHP]-CAL FIRE REQ CHP RESPOND TO CLOSE THE RDWY
1:40 PM 4 [8] TOT CAL FIRE
1:34 PM 3 [3] TOT CAL FIRE
1:34 PM 2 [2] ON RHS
1:33 PM 1 [1] BRUSH FIRE
Unit Information
1:38 PM 2 Unit Assigned
1:48 PM 1 Unit At Scene
Was orignally 8 acres, now 40 with dangerous rate of spread. Air attack ordered 2 additional tankers. IC ordered 2 gulfs and 2 limas and 1 charlie strike team in addition to the first alarm.
Oh, I hope I don’t have to cover another one. The winds are calm, so just maybe …
Today is the last day I will be covering this fire, unless there is a flare up, as it is all but controlled, 75% as of yesterday, it hasn’t entered the Silver Peak Wilderness, and all Evacs have been lifted. HOlding at 46,344 acres, 85% contained and only 35 structures threatened.
Here are four shots taken from Rocky Butte Truck Trail from South to North, looking East out to Lake Nacimiento:
8:00 am – John Chesnut Map
7:00 am – Maps
And here are the weather and fire predictions:
FOUND TONIGHT, 8/30 in Seaside. YAY~~
Someone let her out of the car, or stole her. Let’s help reunited them. This one here is so close to my heart as she looks like Missy McNab the Mystery Dog, that those of you who have been following me know she made her way into my house and my heart a couple years ago after someone dumped her. Missy looks just like this, only Missy’s ears are always upright, no matter what.
This is Sally Rideout’s Dog. Please help.
