And from John Chesnut a similar one showing the back burn from behind Ventana to behind Deetjen’s. If you zoom in, you can see what looks like a dozer line on the ridge top, all the way down off the map. This may be the one left over from the Basin that is or will be used again.

From Keith Vandervere:

Firing operations begin on Coast Ridge. Thursday evening maps & notes https://xasauantoday.com/2016/08/05/soberanes-fire-week-three/

5:30 pm – the view north from my place. I am hoping that this is a backburn mentioned on FB as being back behind Deetjen’s. There appear to be two smoke columns. For orientation, the point sticking out WAY in the back (on the left) is Pt. Sur and  the Lighthouse, which I can see at night

From Kyle Evans looking south from Pfeiffer Ridge to Mount Manuel, on the left, with the fire camps below on Monday night – such devastation can also be so beautiful.

1:00 pm – From the beauty of the fire (see below) to the ugliness of some of our tourists:

Kathleen (Lee) and Byran (Flores) I got a call this morning. I went down to Old Coast Road next to Bixby Bridge and this is what I saw right behind storm drain. It is a hose used to pump an RV septic tank. Can you please notify CalTrans or whoever? I hope someone can get it out of there. Let me know if they can’t and I will do it myself. Also I would like the sheriff and CHP advised about this new approach to sanitation. Ken Ekelund

Here’s one of my favorite photos by Rachel Moody from Applie Pie Ridge, taken Monday Night. In my opinion, it is a classic.

10:30 am – Hopkins Ridge activity by Sharen Carey:

From BSHC:

NOTICE: BIG SUR HEALTH CENTER PSYCHOLOGICAL DEBRIEFING, Saturday, August 13, 11:00 am.
Dr. Ann Flood will lead a psychological debriefing in order to help prevent post-traumatic stress syndrome related to the Sobranes Fire. The debriefing will begin at 11:00 AM at Big Sur Health Center. Those wishing to have a private meeting with Dr. Flood will be able to meet with her after the debriefing. There is no charge for these services.
During the Basin Complex Fire we had similar counseling services which proved extremely beneficial for many residents. We hope you will take advantage of these complimentary services.
Spanish speaking services will also be available, if needed, provided by Eduardo Eisner.

Also on Friday, the 12th, the Soberanes Fire Fundraiser at the Golden State Theater. I will look for the flyer and post here:

And then on Sunday, there is another fundraiser here:

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From the Los Padres National Forest of the USFS:

Recreation Facilities that are Open on the Monterey Ranger District

GOLETA, Calif., August 11, 2016…Los Padres National Forest officials today clarified the campgrounds and day use facilities that are open for recreational use on the Monterey Ranger District.
Although much of the Monterey Ranger District is closed because of the Soberanes wildfire, the following sites are open for public use:

· Arroyo Seco Recreation Area
· Kirk Creek Campground
· Mill Creek Day Use Area
· Nacimiento Campground
· Ponderosa Campground
· Sand Dollar Day Use Area
· Plaskett Creek Campgrounds
· Willow Creek Day Use Area

The campgrounds at Arroyo Seco, Kirk Creek, Nacimiento, Ponderosa and Plaskett Creek require a reservation or are sometimes available on a first come, first serve basis. To ensure a camping space, please contact the concessionaire:

Rocky Mountain Recreation – http://rockymountainrec.com or (831) 674-5726 (Arroyo Seco)
Parks Management Company – http://recreation.gov or (805) 434-1996 or (877) 444-6777 (Kirk Creek, Plaskett Creek, Ponderosa, and Nacimiento)
Members of the public are reminded that they should call ahead to the Monterey District Office at (831) 385-5434 for the latest conditions and always consult the National Weather Service for current weather forecasts.

###

Here is this morning’s facts sheet:

7:15 am – We have no IR map for the second day in a row, so the perimeter on our maps is out of date. Not much we can do about that, unfortunately. Up here, I can see a thick, heavy marine layer covering all the coast visible to me. It is almost chilly up here, so far today. This is a really good thing for our coastal areas of the fire. Hoping the marine influence will help the last stages of the battle to save Big Sur Valley today, which has thus far been successful. Hoping all can rest a little easier when this day is done.

7:45 pm – note from Kathleen Lee – the controlled burn from the Molera fire camp was done to control the Italian Thistle so that the trucks that are parking there, are not bringing it out with them to spread it through out the area. Kudos to the State Park Biologists!

7:30 pm – report from a happy local business owner:

“Smile on my face tonight. Marine layer was able to stop the fire in the middle of Juan Higuera basin, the N/F of Juan Higuera is considerable less a threat due to direct attack by Hot Shots from Dell Rosa or Dela Rosa, USFS crew real animals!

The S/F of JH has an area they tried to slow with water until the marine layer returned, they did a backfire to create a safe zone on Hopkin’s and they plan to go direct tomorrow on that area.

By Friday this should be a memory!”

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7:00 pm – I promised my report from yesterday, so here it is, finally.

We fortified ourselves at the hotel Tuesday with a room service breakfast, packed, and headed out. I need to give a shout out to the Portola Hotel and Spa where we were treated so very well and given a Motel 6 rate for a 4-star room. It was greatly appreciated. We had a dinner that was unbelievable at Jack’s on Sunday night, after the fundraiser, as the crowds were so big and the lines were so long, we couldn’t get the samples of what, I’m sure, were wonderful bites.

So we had the usual town things to take care of, but made it to the River Inn by 11 or so on Tuesday for coffee and Internet, food for Rock Knocker, and local gossip. (Note: if they won’t let me start paying for things, I may have to stop coming!! But then I would miss everyone.) On the way, I stopped at the Little Sur and watched the fire burning on the west side of Pico Blanco, mostly saw smoke, not flames. Also noticed a number of dozers up on the ridge on the north side.

Rather than recount the day, let me summarize the things I took away – first, the tourist traffic was dismally slow and dangerous with lookey loos. The large turnout across from Pfeiffer Ridge was packed with cars, people crossing the road, and a lone officer trying to enforce some semblance of order (mostly ineffectual). Each available turnout in Big Sur was filled with tourists taking photos of the fires. Not a pretty sight. I was astounded at the patience the tourist industry workers were exhibiting with the inane questions and cluelessness. It is a great thing that I ended my tourist industry career about 25 years ago. I don’t have the patience.

We stopped in the parking lot at Ripplewood to watch the 4 helicopters we heard at River Inn come in from the ocean with full buckets, go back behind the short ridge right behind the resort and circle to the top of the Juan Higuera drainage and drop their water … One after the other, after the other, in well practiced precision. I wish we could have seen the actual drops. We later watched the drops on Mt. Manuel and those guys are accuracy in motion. Such pros. I stopped at the TapRoom to use the internet again and recount what I saw, but had nothing to eat or drink, as I was still full. Kurt and I talked the whole time, so was unable to post.

Most of those in the Valley were cautiously optimistic on Tuesday given the hellacious day and night they had had on Monday. I saw my community the way it is during an emergency – the best of the best. I am always so proud to be a member of this wonderful group of human beings, who pick on each other in the best of times, but put it ALL aside and work tirelessly and well together in the worst of times. I can never leave here. It has my heart and my soul – it is the love of my life: the land and the people. Thank you for welcoming me into the fold 31 years ago.

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4:15 pm – fire in the new fire camp at Andrew Molera? How could this happen? This has got to be a first. Photo by Mike Gilson. One local has it as a “controlled burn” for the fire camp. No “official” confirmation, yet. “At Molera it was a controlled burn from all the poison oak brush they cleared for camp, just didnt bother telling anyone…”

Another photo by Mike Gilson, showing Ewoldsen’s (aka The Knoll) on the left taken at some time:

3:45 pm – I wish I knew the story behind this one. Just glad the pilot made it safely back to the airport. “Hey Kate….just had a tanker declare an emergency for smoke in the cockpit…..he just landed and shut down on the taxiway…..it is T01….engine crews are at the A/C.”

3:30 pm – from Cal-Fire:

Noon – I cannot believe I actually fell asleep again, after such a wonderful night’s sleep, but I did! I received these photos from Ray Martorano, a retired fire captain from FHL who lives near the Paso Airport. He is one of the many, many people who help to keep me up-to-date with information. After 38 years on the FHL Fire Dept. it is in his blood. You can see our fire clearly from there, and here are two of the 5 tankers that are working it from Paso:

8:00 am – and so the healing begins (photo by Michael Troutman):

Mother Nature continues to amaze with her healing powers.

7:45 am – recycling fire signs:

7:00 am – ah … What a long sleep I had. It has been almost 3 weeks since I slept 7 hours in one stretch, and this should do wonders for my mental and physical health. I heard from one of those closest to the fire yesterday, and he, too, slept a solid 8 hours. (Exhaustion will eventually win) The marine layer is over those in Big Sur Valley, mitigating fire behavior, for which we are all greatful. Smell of smoke is heavy in the Highlands, so breeze must be pushing the fire back north from whence it came, which has resulted in cleaner air and safer conditions for those of us in the south.

Fire is 68,698 acres with 50% containment. I don’t expect those containment figures to change much over the next few weeks as the Soberanes makes its way deeper into the wilderness.

9 pm – Sorry, I have to bow out of my promised telling of the day. Must take myself to bed. Here are two photos of the flame and run put the canyon – of the fire on Mt. Manuel’s west side. (IPhone photos, sorry)

5:00 pm – I am finally home, completely done in. I will be back to bring photos and observations from my trip to the Big Sur Valley – but know that there are visible flames in places on the west side of peaks from Apple Pie to Mt. Manuel. It is moving slowly downhill with no wind. There are some runs going up canyon with very large flames. If wind were to become a factor, the story would be quite different. Some businesses are closed (Ventana, Fernwood, for example) and others are open (River Inn and The Taproom/Deli, for example.) The new tourist attraction in Big Sur is the fire. The large turn outs in the Valley were filled with with tourists taking photos. The majority of the business seem to center on finding bathrooms. I really am not thinking clearly, as evidenced by taking my “old” camera, for which I did not have spare battery or charger in camera bag, and thus was relegated to using my iPhone. I did take some photos, though. I will bring as much information as I can, after 7 pm, or so. Also note the new announcement about closure again tonight from 10 pm to 6 am tomorrow morning, and finally, of import, is the fact that they are moving the fire camp from the State Park on the west side, to Andrew Molera on the east side. I asked about it, but was told some resources were moving, but unclear as to how much was actually moving, so I went into the State Park and made my own observations. When one sees the food vendors packing up and moving, one knows it must be pretty much the whole camp.

2:45 PM – Reporting from the TapHouse, after watching the helicopters fly over River Inn heading toward Juan Higuera, then watching them dump up…(to be continued)

12:45 pm – helicopters flying the valley, headed north of here – short runs…having a bite, then back on the road to find out what is happening,

11:25 AM – River Inn. Dozer’s replaced on the ridge up above the horseshoe are on a existing dozer line. Local’s asked about a ‘hot spot’ between Apple Pie and the highway. Nothing is visible from the highway, so I think it may have been an anomaly. The MODIS maps for this morning were late, so much was based on last night’s information, local observations, etc.

Highway is not much more crazy than usual, with the tourists, but there is a lot fire traffic, naturally. Andrew Molera Park is a refilling station, and the field to the north is a helicopter landing area. Businesses are open and business is booming.

The feeling in the Valley among the locals I spoke with are that the next 24 hours are critical, and much depends on the fog, temps, and wind conditions. We will all be watching closely.

7:20 am – 67,000+ acres, 50% contained.

6:25 am – I am waiting for breakfast and coffee, then will be getting  ready to leave latter this am for my ride south. A quick look at the maps, and given what I saw from residents re the fire last night, I was surprised to read that the road would open at 6, but per the CHP website, it did. That’s crazy IMHO, but I’ll be able to take photos, if it is not too smoky and post from road. Take a look at these maps provided by Adam Clark and Lucas Ryan in the post below.

[16] ^ROADWAY OPEN
6:08 AM 8 [14] ***PER N115 – ROADWAY IS OPEN ********
4:46 AM 7 [13] 1039 S7 PER A11338
4:46 AM 6 [12] REF LOG MY44 , PER CAL FIRE LAST UPDATE THEY SAY SR1 SHOULD BE RE-OPENED AT 0600 HRS
9:22 PM 5 [9] N115 / CLOSURE IN PLACE
3:49 PM 4 [7] CLOSURE BTWN PALO COLORADO AT MM 61.7 AND VENTANA AT MM 44.9
1:51 PM 3 [6] ANY PUBLIC CALLS/COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE CLOSURE CAN BE REFERRED TO CAL FIRE INFORMATION LINE 831-204-0446
12:36 PM 2 [2] CLOSURE WILL BE MANNED BY CHP OFFICERS, ONLY EMERGENCY VEHICLES WILL BE ALLOWED THROUGH
12:35 PM 1

Those of you in the valley, be safe, please, we need you.

11:30 pm – from Sharen Carey’s front porch looking toward Apple Pie at 11 pm.

10:30 pm from Ed

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From Emily Montgomery, earlier this evening.

8:30 pm first one by Mike, second by Ed

From clear ridge by Mike Gilson

Mt. Manuel right now by Ed Van Weijen

Nice slide series of a retardant drop this afternoon on Mt. Manuel by Ed Van Weijen.

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Okay, this a photo from Kurt at the Deli taken at 2 pm. You may have to Zoom in, but you can see that there are at least TWO spots where there is spot fire on the west side of Mt. Manuel – middle right.

2:15 pm – hi way one to close tonight between 10 pm and 6 am.
Detail Information
1:51 PM 3 [6] ANY PUBLIC CALLS/COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE CLOSURE CAN BE REFERRED TO CAL FIRE INFORMATION LINE 831-204-0446
12:36 PM 2 [2] CLOSURE WILL BE MANNED BY CHP OFFICERS, ONLY EMERGENCY VEHICLES WILL BE ALLOWED THROUGH
12:35 PM 1 [1] SR1 WILL BE CLOSED BETWEEN PALO COLORADO AND NORTH COAST RIDGE ROAD FROM 8/8/16 AT 2200 THROUGH 8/9/16 AT 0600

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1:45 pm – just finished playing tourist, and see a huge plume out by Cachuagua. I see lots of people have sent me photos. I will post a few. No one seems sure if this is a back burn or part of the main fire – it is burning toward Elephant Mountain, I understand.

From Jim Barr taken at CV Airport at 1:20 pm –

These two are from Christopher Bolton and taken from El Caminito. He suggests that perhaps the front plume is near Los Pladres DAm near Danish Camp and the 2nd, back one might be Uncle Sam and Post Summit meeting. I’ve sent these to  Keith to see if he can help id.

Per one reader: See the reference that they are firing off in the Princes Camp area today: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4888/

1:00 pm – 

9:15 am –

8:30 am – view from Post Ranch by Kurt Mayer:

7:30 am – Sorry, I was up half the night, worried about conditions in Big Sur Valley, so when I finally got to sleep, it took a Coffee Delivery to wake me up. I am watching closely the maps this am, as several of the lines were breached yesterday afternoon at Post Summit, and lo0ks like it is either over the line at Mt. Manuel or up against it. This day of R&R will be watching closely. Lucas is busy adding a few maps that were just released. Total acres is now 60,459 acres. One structure in Rio del Robles in Carmel Valley burned last night, but residents not injured. Don’t think it was due to the Soberanes Fire, but it was destroyed. I have much to go through to catch up,  then I will load what I can at 8 am.