For Immediate Release

      Media Contact: Andrew Madsen

http://www.facebook.com/lpnf

Twitter: @LosPadresNF

Fire Update

U.S. Forest Service

Pacific Southwest Region

Los Padres National Forest
6750 Navigator Way
Goleta, CA 93117

http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf

MILL FIRE

July 31, 2019

AFTERNOON UPDATE

Date Started:​July 30, 2019​Cause: Under Investigation​Total Acres:​280​Containment:10%

Injuries to Date:   1​​Structures Damaged/Destroyed:​0​​Total Personnel:482

Assigned Resources:

​Crews: 14​​Engines: 30​​Helicopters:​5​Air 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.

Taken between 5:30 and 6 pm from Prewitt Ridge. Some amazing shots you will not want to miss.

I will be adding more photos to this post this evening. This new format makes me do them one-at-a-time, so more to come. The photo above is probably my favorite. It just says so much!

7 pm — from Ashley Seefeldt

6:20 pm — AA reports fire is now 200-250 acres after a slop-over & the fire is now making a run to the east, potential for 1000 acres. T-911 is on the way from McClellan. Just to recap assigned aircraft.
currently 2 AA’s have been assigned today.
2 leads have also been swapping shifts today.
Helicopter 527, 528, 530, 406 (back from the maintenance issue)
Type 1 copters: 95B, FTX
8 Tankers assigned:
T-10, 12, 74, 75, 79, 80, 82, 911

5 pm…fire just picked up again…helicopters and planes are both flying it.

Los Padres NF (LosPadresNF)

#MillFire has burned approximately 50 acres on the Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd about 3-5 miles above Highway 1. @LosPadresNF has initiated a full response to include air resources. Nac-Ferg Rd is closed in both directions to allow fire equipment to safely navigate the road.3:12 PM – 30 Jul 2019

I also read that the fire had hooked around retardant lines, so going indirect.

2 pm – photo from Alms Ridge by Tom Collins

• 

• 

1:20 pm — just went off again. The first one is from the Hermitage side, the second from mine.

12:38 pm — the fire column has flattened out, now, and is looking pretty good. The aircraft were flying it on all sides, so it is probably surrounded by retardant. They are continuing to fly. I think my DSLR internal clock has not been reset to PDT, so subtract an hour from the first 2 photos., below. The others shot with cell, so they are golden.

More photos. That plume is growing as I watch.

Well, we made the GOES satellite:

10:30 am — here are 2 current photos. One from Lucia, the other from Coastlands. Top one by Ashley Seefeldt, Lucia; and bottom one by Nadine Clark, Coastlands.

9 am — Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is now closed at Highway 1 and at FHL. Copter 406 says it is 20 acres. Helios sent back due to smoke

9:00 AM	13	[18] FORT HUNTER LIGGETT INQ IF WE HAVE UNITS CLOSING DOWN RDWY ADV NEG THAT SO IS OUT THERE BUT CHP HAS BEEN REQ
8:54 AM	12	[17] NACIMENTO FURGESON IS CLOSED FROM SR1
8:54 AM	11	[16] [Notification] [CHP]-PER MTRY COM FIRE NOW CALLED THE MILL FIRE / 5 MILES UP NACIMENTO FERGUSON FROM SR1 / REQ CHP TO RELIEVE SO UNIT AT SR1 AND NACIMENTO FERGUSON / 10 PLUS ACRES AT THIS TIME / REQ CHP TO CB TO ADV THEM WHEN CHP IS ON THE WAY

From Lucia & Ashley Seefeldt:

8:30 am — Nacimiento-Ferguson Road CLOSED per request of the Incident Commander for the Mill Fire until further notice. For more info call the Los Padres National Forest: 805-961-5770. (this is per FHL)

Tanker 75 on its way! YAY Can hear both the plane and the helicopter.

8:00 am — current photo:

7:45 am — from CHP:

7: 37 AM	9	[14] [Notification] [CHP]-DOT COPY LN 13
7:37 AM	8	[13] REQ CAL TRANS AT NACIMENTO FERGUSON AND CENTRAL COAST RD / REQ A RUBBER TIRE LOADER
7:36 AM	7	[12] 1039 SAL REF LINE 11
7:34 AM	6	[11] PER CAL TRANS ENRT IN 5 MINS FROM WILLOW SPRINGS YARD
7:21 AM	5	[10] 1039 CALT, THEY WILL CK W/ THEIR SUP AND ADV
7:19 AM	4	[9] PER SAL, LOS PADRES FIRE REQ A RUBBER TIRE LOADER, PER CORDS TO SAL THEY NEED A OES # 1ST, PER SAL, CAN WE CK W/ CALT IN THAT AREA AND SEE IF THEY HAVE THE EQP

7:30 am — view from a neighbor:

6:30 am — Many notices this am from neighbors. This is what it looks like. It is at or near Lions Creek. This is real. East side of Naci, headed north, it looks like.

Recent Incidents (Prepared 07/30/2019 06:35)

Date

Inc #

Name

Type

Location

WebComment

Resources

IC

Fuels

Acres

Lat/Lon

TRS

Status

07/30/2019 05:36

LPF-1678

MILL

Wildfire

Kirk Creek at Hwy. 1

.

BC11LPF E18LPF E319LPF HEL527LPF PAT17LPF Q

.

.

1

35 59.310, -121 29.772

22S R4E Sec 26

.

7:00 pm — 300 acres, 40% contained.

6:00 pm — I am a bit behind, as this was grocery day, and there were THREE road constructions between Cambria and Morro Bay, so it took much longer than usual. I understand this is now 250 acres and 30% contained. SLU has sent a strike team of 5 engines.

Here is a photo:

4:46 PM	19	[65] 1039 SAL FOR CORDS REF LINE 63
4:43 PM	18	[64] [Notification] [CHP]-PER SAL, ETA FOR PUBLIC WORKS IS 30 MIN [Shared]
4:40 PM	17	[63] REQ ANOTHER CLOSURE 70251 OR 70226 NEW PLEYTO JSO JOLON / ENTRANCE TO KELLYS DELI NEEDS TO BE CLOSED OFF
4:18 PM	16	[59] 1039 CORDS
4:16 PM	15	[57] REQ CO RDS FOR HARD CLOSURE
4:05 PM	14	[54] B8-045 FIRE REQ NEW PLAYTO SHUT DOWN AT JOLON AND CLOSURE IN PLACE
4:03 PM	13	[53] [Notification] [CHP]-PER SLNS COM FIRE REQ’G CHP TO SHUT DOWN NEW PLEYTO AT JOLON [Shared]
4:03 PM	12	[52] 8-S2 8-S2 AT 70320 JOLON ACCESS ROAD DIVISION ALPH – FIRE USING IT ACCESS 10 MILES JWO / ACTIVE FIRE UP TO ROAD A THAT LOCATION
3:51 PM	11	[49] [Appended, 15:51:22] [5] TRANS CAL FIRE MTY,
3:50 PM	10	[48] [Appended, 15:51:22] [4] TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO TRANS CAL FIRE MTY CALL DIDN’T GO THROUGH
3:49 PM	9	[44] CAL FIRE WILL CALL BACK AND ADVISE
3:48 PM	8	[46] [Appended, 15:51:22] [2] LARGE PLUME OF DARK COLORED SMOKE
3:45 PM	7	[43] 8-S2 SEE IF CP SET UP FOR FIRE
3:14 PM	6	[37] TRANS CAL FIRE MTY
3:11 PM	5	[33] TRANS CAL FIRE MTY
3:03 PM	4	[27] CAL FIRE L/L ADVS MTY CAL FIRE HAS CALL
2:50 PM	3	[2] BRUSH FIRE
2:49 PM	2	[10] [Appended, 14:54:05] [6] SOMEONE WALKING IN THE AREA POSS ASSOC TO THE FIRE
2:47 PM	1	[7] [Appended, 14:54:05] [3] GRASS AND TREES ON FIRE

I have two articles in Voices of Monterey Bay this issue — both addressing wildfire in Big Sur.

My son came home from town one recent night, only to find campers near where the Plaskett 2 Fire of 2000 started — a mere 40 acres away from me. They had a campfire. He confronted them, made them put it out. It was 9:30 on a Sunday night on the Fourth of July weekend, just as I thought all the latest round of holiday craziness had ended.

They were campers who don’t think they can really be camping unless they have a campfire. We see way too many of them in Big Sur.

Like most everyone who lives in Big Sur, we were cautious and ever vigilant during the July 4th weekend. The usual concerns about campfires are aggravated by people shooting off illegal fireworks but sadly, the Fourth of July is only the beginning of what can be a very long season.. In thinking back over the last 30 years living on the South Coast, I can’t recall any significant fires starting on the Fourth of July. But I clearly remember my first wildfire up here on the mountain, not in July, but in October.

It was the Wild Fire of 1996, named after Wild Cattle Canyon, where it started. It was arson. Jeff Avila had a contract with the U.S. Forest Service to provide services in case of a wildfire and it had been a mercifully quiet fire season. That meant no income and no work for Avila, so he decided to create some. He paid another man $2,000 to drive Highway 1 and throw a flare up a steep canyon on the South Coast around 10 p.m. 

You can read the rest of this article here: https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2019/07/18/living-with-wildfire/

My second one is Up in Smoke: a history of wildfire in Big Sur.

Campfires have been sparking spectacular wildfires in Big Sur since settlers first appeared in this Land to the South.

Back in 1904, an observer named E.A. Sterling reported that an untended campfire had started a massive fire in the Chews Ridge area the previous year. The fire burned for three months. It started “from an unextinguished campfire in Township 18 south … and burned a strip of about a township wide through to the coast, becoming wider towards its western end.” His observations were recorded in an unpublished USFS typescript.

This was not the first recorded wildfire in Big Sur or the Monterey Ranger District of the Los Padres National Forest. There is a long history of wildfires in the mountains and forests of the Santa Lucia Range.

“According to a number of sources, in 1894 most of what is now the Monterey Ranger district was consumed by a fire that burned unchecked for weeks,” wrote David Rogers, who has written extensively about this history of wildlands in Monterey County. 

And again, here is a link to the second article: https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2019/07/18/up-in-smoke/

A brush fire has burned 40 acres and at least one structure has burned and other structures are threatened in the East San Jose foothills.

Cal Fire confirms the fire began near Aborn Road, east of Evergreen Valley High, on Monday, and evacuations appear to be in progress.

Also one in Morgan Hill at Center & Marsden:

ncident: 00165 Type: Report of Fire Location: Center Ave / Masten Ave Loc Desc: 10810 CENTER Lat/Lon: 37.064108 -121.570838 

12:38 PM	9	[42] A23-013 RUCKER COMPLETELY CLOSED BTWN CENTER AND NEW, CENTER BTWN MASTEN AND RUCKER CLOSED AS WELL
12:10 PM	8	[34] [Appended, 12:10:46] [3] PER CALFIRE IS SAME AS THE FIRE CENTER X MASTEN
12:09 PM	7	[32] [Appended, 12:10:46] [1] SMOKE SEEN ONLY
12:07 PM	6	[29] CALLER DISC // MORGAN HILL FIRE HAS CALL
12:05 PM	5	[21] [Appended, 12:05:52] [2] OWNER OF THE RANCH THAT IS ON FIRE / XFER TO CAL FIRE
12:05 PM	4	[17] ON HOLD FIRE
12:04 PM	3	[15] 1039 CAL FIRE MH
12:01 PM	2	[4] [Appended, 12:02:42] [1] HOUSE ON FIRE
11:57 AM	1	[1] VEG FIRE