MCSO just released their findings that the fire was caused by a suicide. Details, other than finding the body at the point of origin, are not being released. The body has yet to be identified.

Fire report on CHP – Santa Cruz county:

Incident: 00174 Type: Report of Fire Location: Corralitos Rd / Freedom Blvd Loc Desc: NR PLEASANT VALLEY Lat/Lon: 36.963432 -121.809467
Detail Information
11:04 AM 9 [21] 30 HAS MERK/ CORAALITOS CLOSED
10:58 AM 8 [18] CDF COMMAND POST 219 MERK RD
10:56 AM 7 [17] XFER ANOTHER CALLER IN AREA OF WHITE ROAD
10:47 AM 6 [8] PER NETCOMM,FIRE IS ER TO A WILD LAND FIRE AREA OF CORRALITOS AT FREEDOM
10:46 AM 5 [6] [Appended, 10:46:57] [4] 1039 NETCOMM
10:46 AM 4 [5] [Appended, 10:46:57] [3] 24M SEES SMOKE
10:45 AM 3 [2] TOT FIRE
10:45 AM 2 [1] RP IS ON CORRALITOS ON A BIKE,CAN SEE SMOKE IN THE AREA NR A HOUSE
10:43 AM 1 [3] [Appended, 10:46:57] [1] SMOKE BTWN FREEDOM AND RIO JUST STARTING

The 7:30am report from Cal Fire: Tassajara Fire is still at 30 percent containment, 1,086 acres. I will post additional information and links as they become available, but the first thing that comes to mind is donations to Cachagua Volunteer Fire Department. I am sure thei resources have been tapped. Consider a donation. When a community fundraiser is anticipated, I will provide notice of how you can help.

Tassajara Fire Incident Information:
Last Updated: September 20, 2015 7:30 pm
Date/Time Started: September 19, 2015 3:00 pm
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE San Benito-Monterey Unit
County: Monterey County
Location: 2.5 miles north of Jamesburg
Acres Burned – Containment: 1086 acres – 30% contained
Structures Destroyed: 10 residences damaged or destroyed, numerous outbuildings
Evacuations: Mandatory Evacuations:
Tassajara Road from Carmel Valley Road to Cachagua Road
Evacuation Advisory:
Remainder of communities of Cachagua and Jamesburg

Evacuation Center:
Red Cross:
Carmel Middle School
4380 Carmel Valley Rd
Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923

Monterey County SPCA managing large animal evacuation

Injuries: 1 civilian fatality
Cause: Under Investigation
Cooperating Agencies: Cachagua FPD, USFS, Salinas FD, Red Cross, SPCA, PG&E, Monterey Co Sheriff
Total Fire Personnel: 590
Total Fire Engines: 32
Total Fire crews: 30
Total Airtankers: 5
Total Helicopters: 3
Total Dozers: 3
Long/Lat: -121.589554/36.3699644

From LPF WildCAD: resources sent to SLU mutual aid. Also, Per retired from friend heard on scanner:

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Atascadero sending units under a mutual aid contract. Now calling this the Summit Fire.

[46] A9-004 CAL FIRE 97
1:01 PM 9 [43] A9-008 97 W/ SMALLER FIRE, CAL FIRE NEED TO RESPOND TO LARGER FIRE FIRST / 1039 CAL FIRE
12:55 PM 8 [38] [Appended, 12:58:13] [1] TOT CAL FIRE
12:55 PM 7 [29] [Appended, 12:55:53] [2] SINGED THE HAIRS ON HIS ARM // 1039 CAL FIRE
12:55 PM 6 [28] [Appended, 12:55:53] [1] ANOTHER RP STATES ITS VERY CLOSE TO HWY
12:49 PM 5 [13] 1039 S2 WILL ADV 9-4
12:49 PM 4 [16] [Appended, 12:50:17] [1] PER ANOTHER RP – FIRE IS CLOSE TO THE HWY
12:47 PM 3 [8] ANOTHER CALLER ADV THERE WERE APPROX 6 FIRES ALONG THE SR46 // CALLER DISC 1039 CAL FIRE
12:45 PM 2 [2] 1039 CAL FIRE
12:44 PM [1] BRUSH FIRE

The Carmel Valley was smoke filled pre-dawn this morning. Smoke filled the air in Carmel as well. Remote weather station MCAHC1 near Jamesburg reported winds from the east at 11 mph at 3:30 am. All other regional stations were reporting winds generally north or northwest. The image below was shot from Lover’s Point Park in Pacific Grove looking east where smoke is visible over Salinas.

All eyes on the morning briefing. We should get updated acreage, expected weather and a resource count.
Twitter link  #TassajaraFire

Cal Fire Incidents

And  I will leave you with this gorgeous shot by SLOStringer.

Tassajara has retardant on the flanks, and from here,  it looks like it is laying down. We will know for sure in the morning, but for now, I am signing off.

oh here’s the photo from Joel DeMaria, as promised. BTW, you can listen to scanner feeds on broadcastify. You must join, but it is free. I can’t hear well enough to make use of it, thus far, but I try.

The one below is by Ernest A Long, taken from the baseball fields in Carmel Valley. Thank you Earnest

The first one is from my house on the South Coast, probably both fires.

i also have a great one by Joel DeMaria I will try and upload … Which is so easy with my new internet, although I can see I am going to be WAY over my data limit!