Category: Fire Season

Fire Weather

5:00 pm – red flag warning in effect throughout the evening in the Monterey NWS area. While I can see build up of clouds to the north and to the east, I have sunshine and no thunder here. Even my dog Dakota’s keen hearing is picking up nothing. She ALWAYS hears it long before me, and tries to crawl under whatever she can. My other three are not bothered, so I always keep an eye on her whenever there is a chance of lightning, no matter how remote.

8:30 am – This afternoon through tomorrow, very unstable weather, with possibility of lightning strikes. Wet or dry strikes (and models are unclear if the rain will hit the ground, but San Jose already experiencing rain this morning) brings serious threats of fire starts in Monterey County and the greater Bay area, even if rain accompanies the strikes, as fuel levels are extremely dry.

So keep an eye out, report any down strikes you see on land, if possible. I have to do a quick yo-yo south, but will be watching this closely through tomorrow.

Wildfire – SLO Co – Bitterroot & 46

Final acreage, 167 acres.

4:00 pm – 50 acres.

3:00 pm – 15 acres, one structure threatened.

AA requesting two air additional tankers. Potential for 100 acres unless it jumps Bitterwater Road, then potential for 500 – 600 acres. 2 dozers, 2 airtankers, 6 Type 3 Engines, 4 crewsalready on scene.

This is all according to Wildland fire. This is a a SLO Cal Fire show, but USFS is sending a helicopter to assist.

Vegetation fire, Pfeiffer State Park, Big Sur

At 5:30 am, WildCAD, LPNF reported a vegetation fire at our Big Sur State Park. Reported at only a 10th of an acre. Must be Labor Day weekend! Apparently, somehow, someone set a tree on fire.

Okay, people, let’s be super vigilant, this last weekend of Summer. Apparently we have to.

Chalk Peak illegal campfire

This morning, around 9:30 am, an illegal campfire was called in to LPNF, and Engine 17 responded. It was at the Chalk Peak primitive campground, per WildCAD-LPF. Considering it was already in the upper 80’s or low 90’s by then, this could only have been necessary to brew a cup of joe, in my opinion. What does it take for people to get that this is a completely unnecessary and dangerous risk? NO CAMPFIRES OUTSIDE DEVELOPED CAMPGROUNDS! Primitive is not developed. Just because you see a fire ring, doesn’t mean this is a “developed” campsite! People build them everywhere, and do not take them apart when they are finished or the season is over. The only developed campsites are Plaskett, Kirk Creek, Ponderosa, and Nacimiento down here on the South Coast of Big Sur. Campfires are also allowed at the Day Use areas of Mill Creek and Sand Dollar beach.

Hot August Nights

8/11, 7:30 am – it is already 91 degrees. When it hits 100, I am going to fill the tub with cold water, climb in, and spend the day there.

10:00 pm update – found the fog! Enjoyed a cool day, or at least not hot. Temp here at 10 pm, is a “cool” 89 degrees!

One thing I must say about hunters: in my 18 years here, I cannot remember a single time when a hunter had an illegal campfire. That’s hundreds of hunters over the years, and not a single one. Kudos to all the hunters out there.

I woke at 5 am. It was too hot to sleep. I checked my temps. 84 degrees, both inside and out. At 5 am. I am going down the mountain, hoping to find some relief today. Hunting season opens tomorrow. Oh, joy! Bullets sparked the last Plaskett fire. That one was only 12 acres, thank goodness.

Wildfire – Jolon & 101

6:00 pm update- all units released but one engine.

5:00 pm- A friend just sent me this for a fire at Jolon and 101. The good thing is, this will be easy to get to, so should have it out in no time. But it is a good reminder that it is incredibly hot, incredibly dry, and incredibly fire-prone!

“Hey kate ….just heard a dispatch for mutual aid to monterey cnty for a veg fire….A/A340, T74 an 75, 3462, 3482, 3472, D3441….”

A/a is air attack; T is Tanker; 34xx are engines; and D is dozer.

Wildfire near Gonzales

7 pm- Final count was 63 acres. Just got word from my girlfriend, Cheryl Harris, prior owner of Exotica, that 10 of those acres were on Jim’s ranch, where she lives.

4:00 pm- the fire made a run up hill. AT 81 laid down a lot of retardant, and it looks like they got the forward movement stopped at 50-75 acres. AT 81 is in load and hold at Hollister. Nice save!

3:30 pm -It is 30 acres near Iverson and Johnson Canyon, in MoCo. It is very hot up here, and probably there as well. The Salinas Valley consistently has afternoon winds. I will keep an eye on this. If I don’t update, it means the great guys and gals at Cal Fire jumped all over this puppy.

Fire Danger Weather

From my SLO Weather caster. Temps up here are usually comparable to North County.

“The story this week will be the impressive warming trend in
response to high pressure that will nudge westward from the
plains and the four-corners regions.

Consequently, maximum temperatures are expected to climb
even higher Wednesday through Friday.

Note: Relative humidity levels will continue to drop over
San Luis Obispo County; thus, fire danger is high.
Fire danger is expected to further increase later
this week and over the weekend.

Temperatures are expected to remain above normal with mid
100s expected across the North County on Thursday through
Sunday. Long-range models suggest the heat wave will persist
next week. A possible influx of monsoon moisture may move
over the San Joaquin Valley and perhaps San Luis Obispo
County next Tuesday and Wednesday.”

Isolated Thunderstorms possible

The National Weather Service predicts isolated thunderstorms are expected Saturday, from the late morning through the afternoon hours over the higher terrain mountain locations of Southeastern Monterey and San Benito Counties. Severe weather or flash flooding is not expected and any rainfall amounts will be light. These storms will be capable of producing lightning strikes and contain a threat of dry lightning which will increase the wildfire risk and pose a threat to any back-country travelers on the ridge tops. IMPACTS TO SOUTHEAST MONTEREY AND SAN BENITO COUNTIES HIGHER ELEVATIONS (2500 FT+)
Thunderstorms will contain occasional cloud to ground lightning strikes in the absence of rain which will produce elevated wildfire conditions. Deadly strikes will pose a threat to any back-country travelers in the higher terrain on ridge tops.

I’m southwest, so no lightning, right? Will keep you posted, as necessary, and be on lookout duty for the day.

Hell Hill Fire, Lake Nacimiento

8:00 pm – About 3:00, one of my sources reported a vehicle into vegetation fire at Lake Nacimiento. I had company, so just now catching up. I can see the smoke from here. 4 tankers flying it, and many engines and crew on scene. CHP has Nacimiento lake drive closed from chimmey rock road to heritage ranch…..no word on acres or containment yet.

There is significant smoke to the south east of me.