I don’t know how long I am going to continue to post these as nothing has changed for days. Acreage, containment all remain the same. The only thing that changes is that personnel are being sent elsewhere.
Dolan Fire
Los Padres National Forest
Public Information Phone: 831-272-0222
Media Information Phone: 831-272-0221
Incident E-mail: 2020.Dolan@firenet.gov
Incident Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7018
Fire Information: 831-272-0222 Email: 2020.Dolan@firenet.gov
Media Information: 831-272-0221 InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7018
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lospadresnationalforest
Size: 128,417 acres Containment: 46% Personnel: 535 Start Date: August 18, 2020
Cause: Under Investigation Structures Damaged: 4 Structures Destroyed: 19
YESTERDAY’S ACTIVITIES: Caltrans, in coordination with Monterey County, reopened Highway 1 from Gorda to Lucia yesterday at 6:00 p.m. This section of the highway had been closed for approximately four weeks for public safety related to fire suppression activities on the Dolan Fire. There are still pockets of heat near the highway that will be monitored by fire personnel using infrared technology. Travelers are advised to continue using caution and be aware of emergency vehicles in the area.
As a reminder, the Los Padres National Forest remains closed at this time. For more information visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf/.
TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Firefighters will continue to monitor the perimeter of the Dolan Fire today. Where necessary, they will also be cooling hot spots along uncontained fire lines on the northeast portion of the fire with helicopters. Additionally, crews will continue the backhaul of equipment from around the fire area back to the Incident Command Post in King City.
Increasingly hot and dry temperatures are forecasted today and in the coming days. While there is concern that rising temperatures could increase fire behavior, the methodical work of firefighters to contain this fire by constructing containment and contingency lines and monitoring the fire perimeter, has helped prepare for these conditions. Firefighters will continue to use all available tools to limit the growth of this fire to protect communities and private property.
Fire behavior in the interior of the fire area may increase with unburned pockets of green vegetation that can burn in the days and weeks ahead, producing smoke in localized areas. Residents and visitors to this area can expect to see fire activity like this until a season ending event of significant rain fully contains and controls the Dolan Fire. This weather event typically occurs in early-to-mid November.
Pacific Northwest Team 2 will transfer command of the Dolan Fire today at 6:00 p.m. to California Interagency Incident Management 15, a Type 2 Incident Management Team with Incident Commander James Harris.
EVACUATIONS: The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has evacuations ORDERS and WARNINGS in effect. For current evacuation information view the OES interactive map or call 211. SPCA Monterey County can assist with rescuing, sheltering, and evacuating animals. Call 831-373-2631 – day; 831-264-5455 – night; www.spcamc.org.
ROAD CLOSURES: Nacimiento-Ferguson Road is closed to all traffic from Highway 1 to the Fort Hunter Liggett base boundary line. For more information visit https://roads.dot.ca.gov/.
REGIONAL FOREST CLOSURES: Regional Order No. 20-10 USDA Forest Service has closed public entry to several national forests including the Los Padres National Forest.
WEATHER: Hot and dry conditions are forecasted for the fire area today with winds out of the northwest.
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Dolan Fire
Los Padres National Forest
Public Information Phone: 831-272-0222
Media Information Phone: 831-272-0221
Incident E-mail: 2020.Dolan@firenet.gov
Incident Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7018
I am tired of fire photos. You?
And a couple more fall photos sent to me by Barbara Woyt. Thanks, Barbara!
Effective immediately Zones J & K has been downgraded from evacuation order to Evacuation WARNING. This change is weather dependent and could be moved back to an order if changes in the weather cause changes in fire behavior or growth.
PLEASE NOTE: Tourist traffic is discouraged due to heavy fire traffic and roadside hazards.
All other zone’s status remains unchanged.
As a reminder an “Evacuation WARNING” (i.e. sometimes used interchangeably with the term “Advisory”) means those in a specific area/zone should be prepared to evacuate at any time. You do not need to leave your home at this time but please be alert and prepared to leave if an evacuation order is called.
An “Evacuation ORDER” means those in a specific area/zone should leave immediately.
If you feel that your life is in danger, do not wait for and order.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HIGHWAY 1 IN MONTEREY COUNTY ALONG BIG SUR COAST TO FULLY OPEN AT 6 PM
MONTEREY COUNTY – State Route 1 along the Big Sur Coast, which for the last four weeks has experienced closures due to the Dolan Fire, will be fully reopened at 6 pm today.
The current highway closure, between Gorda and Lucia, will be lifted at that time.
Travelers are advised to continue using caution and be aware of emergency vehicles in the area.
Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when
driving through highway work zones.
Dolan FireLos Padres National ForestPublic Information Phone:831-272-0222Media Information Phone: 831-272-0221Incident E-mail:2020.Dolan@firenet.govIncident Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7018
Size: 128,416 acres Containment: 46% Personnel: 546 Start Date: August 18, 2020 Cause:Under Investigation Structures Damaged: 4 Structures Destroyed: 19
YESTERDAY’S ACTIVITIES: Fire activity was minimal across the Dolan Fire area yesterday. Firefighters monitored activity around the Arroyo Seco River and helicopters were brought in to cool hot spots in the area and southeast of Junipero Peak.
Crews completed ignitions along Highway 1 to bring fire down to the road and contain that fire edge. Firefighters also continued mopping up along McKern Road.
TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Fire managers are expecting another day of moderate fire activity with minimal fire growth today. The work of holding and mopping up containment lines continues around the fire and local crews will continue the process of backhauling critical suppression supplies like hoses, pumps and portable tanks, back to the Incident Command Post in King City so they can be used on other wildfire incidents across the west.
There will be a live virtual community meeting on the U.S. Forest Service-Los Padres National Forest Facebook page at 2 pm. today. Questions may be submitted in advance through Facebook or emailed to 2020.dolan@firenet.gov, and fire managers will respond to questions posted real time to the live streamed event as well.
Firefighters will continue to monitor the northeast section of the fire near Arroyo Seco to watch for any increase in fire activity with persistent hot and dry conditions. The east side of the fire is also being held and monitored from Arroyo Seco south to Fort Hunter Liggett. And mop up will continue along McKern Road from Prewitt Ridge to the Nacimiento-Ferguson Road to contain the south end of the fire.
The air resource advisor assigned to the Dolan Fire has been released with the trend of “good” air conditions in recent days so there will no longer be an air quality update issued for the Central Coast of California. To keep up with air quality conditions near you, visit: https://fire.airnow.gov/
Pacific Northwest Team 2 will transfer command of the Dolan Fire to California Incident Management 15, a Type 2 Incident Management Team with Incident Commander James Harris on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
EVACUATIONS: The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has evacuations ORDERS and WARNINGS in effect. For current evacuation information view the OES interactive map or call 211. SPCA Monterey County can assist with rescuing, sheltering, and evacuating animals. Call 831-373-2631 – day; 831-264-5455 – night; www.spcamc.org.
ROAD CLOSURES: HWY 1 is closed between mile post 25 and mile post 10. Nacimiento-Ferguson Rd is closed to all traffic from Highway 1 to the Fort Hunter Liggett base boundary line. For more information visit https://roads.dot.ca.gov/.
REGIONAL FOREST CLOSURES: Regional Order No. 20-10 USDA Forest Service has closed public entry to several national forests including the Los Padres National Forest.
WEATHER: Hot and dry conditions are forecasted for the fire area today with winds out of the northwest.
Just when I thought it was over, and that I would be signing off on this fire tonight, more backburns. Looks like McKern on the east and Wild Cattle on the west. Helicopters are cooling it down as I type.
Fire Information: 831-272-0222 Email:2020.Dolan@firenet.gov
Media Information: 831-272-0221 Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7018
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lospadresnationalforest
Size: 128,261 acres Containment: 46% Personnel: 568 Start Date: August 18, 2020
Cause: Under Investigation Structures Damaged: 4 Structures Destroyed: 19
YESTERDAY’S ACTIVITIES: Firefighters continued the process of bringing fire down the steep slopes along Highway 1 on the coastal side of the Dolan Fire yesterday. They specifically worked the area from Kirk Creek moving north to connect to firing operations to the containment lines along the road. Crews made good progress on this part of the fire and ignitions are nearly complete.
The east side of the fire had isolated pockets of heat, including the northeast portion of the fire around the Arroyo Seco River. Helicopters were called in to drop water on these hot spots and they’ll continue to be monitored by fire managers.
TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: The Incident Meteorologist (IMET) is forecasting continued warming with temperatures in the low 90s on the inland side of the fire for the next several days. Winds will be out of the northwest.
Along the fire perimeter from Arroyo Seco to Junipero Peak, air operations will keep a vigilant eye on possible fire movement and continue to respond with air support to cool hot spots with water. Retardant will also be available from the mobile retardant base in Arroyo Seco to use to moderate fire behavior. In addition to the Arroyo Seco area, firefighters will also pay close attention to any hot spots flaring up along the eastern perimeter near Pine Canyon.
Crews have nearly completed the process of bringing fire down to Highway 1 to contain the western flank of the fire. This road remains hazardous in these conditions and firefighters will continue working with CalTrans to remove falling rocks, rollout, and snags along Highway 1. There is currently no estimate of when the road will reopen at this time.
While the Dolan Fire area encompasses about 200 square miles, there has been little growth on the fire in the past few days aside from carefully planned burnout operations to contain the uncontrolled fire perimeter. While firefighters continue to patrol containment lines, local crews will begin the process of removing hoses, pumps, portable tanks and other equipment from North Coast Ridge Road and Highway 1 and along McKern Road. This equipment is no longer needed for suppression activities and will be sent back to fire caches where they can be inspected, cleaned and then used by another wildfire currently burning in the west.
EVACUATIONS: The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has evacuations ORDERS and WARNINGS in effect. For current evacuation information view the OES interactive map or call 211. SPCA Monterey County can assist with rescuing, sheltering, and evacuating animals. Call 831-373-2631 – day; 831-264-5455 – night; www.spcamc.org.
ROAD CLOSURES: HWY 1 is closed between mile post 25 and mile post 10. Nacimiento-Ferguson Rd is closed to all traffic from Highway 1 to the Fort Hunter Liggett base boundary line. For more information visit https://roads.dot.ca.gov/.
REGIONAL FOREST CLOSURES: Regional Order No. 20-10 USDA Forest Service has closed public entry to several national forests including the Los Padres National Forest.
WEATHER: Hot and dry conditions are forecasted for the fire area today with winds out of the northwest.
Dolan Fire
Los Padres National Forest
Public Information Phone: 831-272-0222
Media Information Phone: 831-272-0221
Incident E-mail: 2020.Dolan@firenet.gov
Incident Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7018
Update tonight from the USFS: “
In the Highway 1 corridor at the south end of the fire, additional hand ignition was done from Kirk Creek to the north to connect control line at the highway up to the main fire. “Cleanup” ignitions in this area are nearly complete.
The control line holding the burnout from Prewitt Ridge along McKern Road to Nacimiento-Ferguson Road is still holding. Tonight’s photos show two members of the Del Rosa Hotshots (blue hard hats) and other firefighters working with bulldozers to light and hold this burnout the day before yesterday (Thursday 9/17/2020.)
On the eastern side of the fire, between Fort Hunter Liggett and Arroyo Seco, fire activity picked up in some areas late this afternoon. Firefighters responded with water drops from helicopters, also known as “bucket work,” successfully keeping that part of the fire in check.
For tonight’s weather, multiple layers of inversion are expected with some burning continuing in the dry layers. Dryer weather is forecast for tomorrow. Northwesterly winds will continue. Temps are expected to keep rising through midweek.
Tomorrow, hoses will be removed from North Coast Ridge Road and Highway 1. A crew will be camped out on Kern Ridge starting tomorrow night to begin pulling hoses, pumps, portable tanks, and other gear used to hold the burn. Firefighters will continue working with CalTrans to deal with falling rocks, rollout, and snags along Highway 1, but there is no estimate at this time of when the road will reopen. Please call 511 or visit the CalTrans web site for road closure updates.
Along the fire perimeter from Arroyo Seco to Junipero Peak, air operations will keep a vigilant eye on possible fire movement and continue to respond with water drops. Retardant will also be available from the mobile retardant base in Arroyo Seco. In addition to the Arroyo Seco area, firefighters will also pay close attention to any hot spots flaring up along the eastern perimeter facing Pine Canyon.
For more information, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7018/“
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The fire is winding down and there is not much activity on the fire anymore, so John Chesnut is not going to be providing any new maps after tonight, unless there is a sudden change. On behalf of me, and all my readers, thank you very much for providing these easy to understand maps. Your selflessness in doing this for us can never be repaid, so we will just pay it forward.
Fire Information: 831-272-0222 Email: 2020.Dolan@firenet.gov
Media Information: 831-272-0221 Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7018
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lospadresnationalforest
Size: 128,050 acres Containment: 46% Personnel: 678 Start Date: August 18, 2020
Cause: Under Investigation Structures Damaged: 4 Structures Destroyed: 19
YESTERDAY’S ACTIVITIES: Overall, there was moderate fire behavior on the Dolan Fire yesterday but gusty afternoon winds produced some visible smoke columns from burnout operations on Highway 1 as isolated pockets of green vegetation burned within containment lines.
Yesterday crews continued burning along Highway 1, finishing most of the burnout from Mill Creek to Pacific Valley with both hand and aerial ignitions. On the south side of the fire, firefighters continued to hold all fire on the north side of McKern Road with the assistance of favorable southwesterly winds.
TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Hot and dry conditions are forecasted for the weekend, which could increase fire behavior across the Dolan Fire area. Infrared technology is an important tool for fire managers to use in identifying pockets of heat near fire lines and aircraft is quickly dispatched to drop retardant or water on these hot spots. Several helicopters remain available today to respond across the incident if there are flare ups near containment lines due to the change in weather conditions.
Crews continue to hold and patrol the burnout operations on Highway 1 as fire backs down the steep coastal slopes to the road. Firefighters have also been holding fire lines along Prewitt Ridge and around to McKern Road where fire from Wednesday’s burnout operation has joined the main fire. Firefighters continue to hold McKern Road as a containment line and while crews remain diligent watching for spot fires, favorable winds pushing fire north of the road have allowed firefighters to begin cooling and containing the line.
With structure protection work complete in and around Arroyo Seco, firefighters have seen little movement of the fire in recent days. Directly accessing the northeastern portion of the fire remains dangerous and firefighters cannot safely engage due to the steep, rugged terrain and challenging fuel and weather conditions. Fire managers will continue to use heavy helicopters to cool hot spots on the south side of the river and will monitor the fire’s movement in the area.
Several large trees have fallen across the McKern Road and material from the fire area continues to roll down the steep slopes onto Highway 1. Crews often must cut through downed trees to gain access to the fire area or leave for the day. Roads around the fire area remain closed for the safety of the public. They will be reopened again when it is safe to do so and the hazards along the roadside have been addressed.
EVACUATIONS: The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has evacuations ORDERS and WARNINGS in effect. For current evacuation information view the OES interactive map or call 211. SPCA Monterey County can assist with rescuing, sheltering, and evacuating animals. Call 831-373-2631 – day; 831-264-5455 – night; www.spcamc.org.
ROAD CLOSURES: HWY 1 is closed between mile post 25 and mile post 10. Nacimiento-Ferguson Rd is closed to all traffic from Highway 1 to the Fort Hunter Liggett base boundary line. For more information visit https://roads.dot.ca.gov/.
REGIONAL FOREST CLOSURES: Regional Order No. 20-10 USDA Forest Service has closed public entry to several national forests including the Los Padres National Forest.
WEATHER: Hotter and drier temperatures will return to the area today with winds out of the west/northwest.
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As always, here are John Chesnut’s maps. I’ll be back with the morning update later.
“Note expansion of perimeter at the very lowest ocean side of Mill and Kirk Creek == the burnout column you saw yesterday. Looks like the burnout along McKern has expanded in depth 800 meters or more.
Only change in the Arroyo Seco is a little expansion due north of Junipero Serra.”
