Soberanes Fire, Day 36, 8/26/16

Noon: Here is the progression map from the inception until this morning’s mapping:

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and for you purists, here is the link:Progressive Map link to PDG

John Chesnut maps:

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7:45 am – Just in this report from Joelene who attended last night’s meeting at Cachagua Store:
“Howdy the briefing last evening was very informative. Many concerned residents from Tassajara showed up. The USFS is going to take over this fire Friday, but Cal Fire is here to stay as long as this fire is active. Operations will work on the bounds of fire lines. Strike teams are at structures in Miller Canyon and Pine Valley. Please know that while the USFS has a different approach or tactics, Cal Fire is here to stay and protect us. In order for them to help us we must help them. If you feel lack of communication is occurring, contact 8312040446. Or e mail soberanesfire2016@gmail.com if still no return response, keep trying. As their priority is lives first, structures are close behind. They work closer to the current fire breaks and as the fire moves closer, the crews move outward to structures and properties. Those who have yellow paper that says undefendable, please contact a Cal Fire official and ask them to reassess the place, especially if you have done more clearing work. They are not abandoning anyone. They need to be able to protect what is accessible. They need to be able to enter your property AND turn around, especially up Tassajara. Right now warning evacuation remains, and roads are open. You can come and go, with vigilance that this is apt to change suddenly. With all due respect, Cal Fire is working with the sheriff department on communications for a window advance notice of twelve hours of a hard or soft closure, IF back firing operations make the decision to back fire Henningson Ridge. It may not have to be done. With the good old fog walking in, the fire has been low and slow burning, making it easier for fire crews and personnel’s to work it…. Much to our long standing patience….. Cal Fire and all the fire technicians appreciate your patience and support. As much as you do, they want this fire to be beaten as soon as possible and it will come to pass. Just a bit longer. Please continue your wonderful support and patience.”

6:30 am – This is becoming surreal … Day 36. Five weeks, down – now starting the 6th week of monitoring this fire. Lots of fog on the coast, pretty thick, this am, with the smoke sitting on top of that. AND, it is amazingly cool, almost cold. At least I can see Cone Peak, this am.

First up – the IR Topo map and link:

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Link to IR Topo Map in PDF

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So Ops link to PDF Map

And here are the fire behavior and weather predictions. These come from much larger reports, so they are screen shots, and there are no direct links to these pages.

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Chimney Fire, 8/25/16

5:30 pm – here is one of the operations maps for the Chimney Fire. I pulled it up because I got reports of a 20 acre “spot” fire in Division “J” as well as a report of the fire jumping the containment line in the north west corner. Looks like this may be the same incident, which may affect the southern coastal section of Monterey County.

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11 am – Photo taken on FHL Training Area 28 looking South to the Chimney Fire, sent by Ray Martorano. He thinks it may be looking toward Waterdog Creek. “…I wish it was a wider pic so I could see what area I recognize….it sort of looks like looking towards waterdog from the bull canyon area….but never know been a while since been back in there.”

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7 am – It is very smokey and I cannot see Cone Peak or Willow Creek. This fire is currently heading for the Silver Peak Wilderness Area in the South Coast of Big Sur, as you can see from the map below indicating the most current MODIS hits in the last 24 hours. One or two could be an anomaly, but this many? Not really …  And the map shows the Chimney Fire is really the more immediate threat to the South Coast. For example, it is less than 14 miles from my place. I’ll add more maps after morning coffee. Priorities, you know.

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Here is the IR Topo Map:

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Here is the link to IR Topo Map in PDF

Soberanes Fire, Day 35, 8/25/16

1 pm –

Pfeiffer Beach opened Monday, August 22, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park will open Thursday, August 25.

Here’s the rundown of State Park closures / expected reopenings:

• The West side of Garrapata has been open during the fire and remains open. East of the highway the park will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

• Point Sur Light Station SHP is scheduled to reopen this weekend with normal hours.

• Andrew Molera SP will remain in use as a Fire Camp for the foreseeable future.

• Pfeiffer Big Sur SP will remain closed at least through Sept 5th, perhaps longer because the fire has made the hillsides unstable. The Fire Camp is currently moving out, and Parks has begun necessary work to reopen. We have not set a date yet, and expect the work to take at least 2 to 3 weeks.
• Buzzards Roost trail opens Thursday, August 25.

• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is partially reopening Thursday the 25th, which will include the parking lot and trails west of Highway 1. The eastern trails will remain closed.
Partington Cove trail, located west of Highway 1, will also re-open.
From Rene Robles at Big Sur Lodge
The lodge is not open yet but I am opening only for reservations tomorrow with limited operations until further notice as Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is closed and also the trails surrounding Big Sur Lodge.

Regards,
Stan Russell

9:30 am –

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8:00 am –

Soberanes Fire

DAILY UPDATE

Fire Information Phone (831)204-0446
soberanesfire2016@gmail.com
Media Line: (831)484-9647
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4888/
http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1348

Incident: The Soberanes Fire was started by an Illegal campfire on the morning of July 22, 2016, in the Garrapta State Park. The fire is burning in areas of previous large fires including the Basin Complex in 2008 and the Marble-Cone Fire in 1977.
Location: Los Padres National Forest, Ventana Wilderness, Monterey County, CA
Agency Jurisdiction: CAL FIRE San Benito-Monterey Unit/Los Padres National Forest

Current Size 90,062 (52,868 CA-LPF, 37,194 CAL FIRE,) Containment: 60% Cause: Illegal campfire
Injuries: 1 fatality, 4 injuries Structures Destroyed: 57 homes, 11 outbuildings Structures Threatened: 410
Current Resources: Crews: 16 Engines: 44 Helicopters: 12 Dozers: 18 Water Tenders: 42
Total Personnel: 1,494

Incident Command: Alaska Interagency Incident Command Team #1, Kurth, is preparing to take command of the incident from California Interagency Incident Command Team #3, von Tillow commanding.

Fire Restrictions: Forest Order 05-07-16-15 Fire Use Restrictions – Level IV Fire Restrictions. This Order is effective from August 23, 2016, through the end of the official 2016 fire season.

Community Meeting: A community meeting will be held at the Cachagua General Store, located at 18840 Cachagua Road, Carmel Valley, CA tonight, Thursday, August 25, 2016, at 6:00 P.M.

Current Situation: Fire activity in the interior increased yesterday due to higher temperatures and lower humidity producing visible smoke in the area. Fire movement around the perimeter continues to be slow with no threats to fire lines. Areas around and below Miller Mountain, Logwood ridge and Mount Olmstead continue to have fire movement. Crews continue to look for opportunities to construct direct fire line and preparing for future tactical firing operations. Structure protection continues to be evaluated and improved.

Shifting winds are expected today from the southwest bringing cooler, more humid air to the area. This will provide an opportunity for firefighters to continue constructing fire line and preparing structure defense. Aircraft will continue dropping water and fire retardant to reinforce containment lines. Crews will continue fire line repair work along northern Carmel zone.

Wilderness Tactics: To reduce the impacts associated with fire suppression activities in wilderness areas, fire managers and firefighting crews continue using Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics as much as possible. The steep, rugged terrain of the Ventana Wilderness is inherently treacherous to firefighters. Most direct fireline is being constructed near the perimeter in areas that have been pretreated and supported by aircraft. The inaccessibility into the Ventana Wilderness along much of the fire’s east side continually requires patience, and slow and steady hard work from the crews, as they look for options to construct direct line.

The fire was caused by an illegal, unattended campfire on the Soberanes Canyon trail in the Garrapata State Park. Anyone with information is asked to call the CAL FIRE Tip Line at: (800) 468-4408. Fire managers want to remind the public that human caused fires are preventable. Please be aware of current fire restrictions and be careful with anything that could spark a fire.

US Forest Service Road and Trail Closures: A forest closure order has been implemented to close the trails and roads within the Los Padres National Forest, Monterey Ranger District pursuant to USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50(a). The order prohibits going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Soberanes Fire area. For a complete list of closures please visit: http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf . The following sites are open: Pfeiffer Beach Day Use, Mill Creek Day Use, Willow Creek Day Use, Sand Dollar Day Use, Kirk Creek Campground, Nacimiento Campground, Ponderosa Campground and Plaskett Creek Campground.

California State Park Closures: All California State Parks from Garrapata State Park through Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park are closed until further notice; this includes Point Sur State Historic Park (Lighthouse), Andrew Molera State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground and Day Use.

Evacuation Orders and Warnings: An evacuation ORDER remains in effect for Coast Ridge Rd. from mile marker 1.5 to Marble Peak at the end of the road. A WARNING remains for Tassajara Road from Carmel Valley Road to the Tassajara Hot Springs Zen Center. This area includes all roads that lead from the above described roads.

Donations: Local relief efforts to the fire victims have been provided by the Coast Property Owners Association (CPOA) and the Community Foundation for Monterey County. Donations can be made to the CPOA at Coast Property Owners Association, PO Box 59, Big Sur, CA 93920 or the Community Foundation for Monterey County, 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940 (831)375-9712.

The Red Cross prepares for, responds to, and helps people recover from disasters big and small. To donate, people can visit redcross.org/donate/, call 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. For any unmet disaster related needs, please call their 24 hour hotline at 1.866.272.2237.

Additional Cooperating and Assisting Organizations: California State Parks and Recreation, California Highway Patrol California Office of Emergency Services , California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, California National Guard, Big Sur Land Trust, California Department of Transportation, California National Guard, California Fish & Wildlife, Coast Property Owners Association (CPOA), Community Foundation for Monterey County, Bureau of Land Management, American Red Cross, County of Monterey, Pacific Gas and Electric, Carmel Highlands F.P.D., Monterey County Regional Fire Protection District, Mid Coast Volunteer Fire Brigade, Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Cachagua Fire Protection District.

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This is this morning’s IR Topo Map:

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And here is the link to: IR Topo Map in PDF

Here is the IR Ortho Map:

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And here is the link to: IR Ortho Map in PDF

For those of you missing the weather and fire prediction maps, like I was, I found them today and will include them each time I find them. The are included within a much larger document which can be found Here

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And finally, here is the South Ops Map:

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Here is the link to the So Ops Map in PDF

 

SPCA Pet Food & Supplies

Hi Kate! Would you be willing to share this information with your followers?
In many areas throughout the country, a few weeks post-disaster, financial realities start to set-in and sadly some people feel forced to give-up their pets as a result. Through post-disaster pet food giveaway programs the SPCA is proactively taking steps to prevent this from happening here in Monterey County.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, The SPCA for Monterey County will be providing free pet food, kitty litter and some limited pet supplies for fire affected residents and their pets at the following locations:
Palo Colorado: at the intersection of Highway 1 and Palo Colorado Road on Friday, August 26, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Cachagua: at the General Store, 18840 Cachagua Rd., Carmel Valley on Sunday August 28, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Big Sur: at Fernwood on Monday, August 29, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Free pet food is also available for fire affected residents at the SPCA for Monterey County shelter located at 1002 Highway 68 (across from Laguna Seca/Mazda Raceway), 1/2 mile west of Laureles Grade. The Shelter is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for free pet food distribution on a first come first served basis.

Additionally, we have a self-service animal evacuation center set-up for pet owners effected by the Chimney Fire in south Monterey County at the Lockwood Community Center, 65951 Lockwood/San Lucas Rd. in Lockwood. We have staff there at various times, however if we’re not there, effected pet owners can help themselves to pet food, pet crates, blankets, towels, bowls, kitty litter, leashes, collars, etc. on a first come first served basis. We also have listings there for pet friendly hotels and motels from north San Luis Obispo County as well as Monterey County.

Please call (831) 373-2631 if you have any questions.

Chimney Fire, 8/24/16

10:30 pm – I had a very busy day, and was unable to post or check on things most of the day. I went and picked up my son, Brendon, from the Hermitage, who has been stranded due to no vehicles. We hadn’t seen each other since May. We went to town together, mostly to take care of my business. On the way home, went up to the visitor center at the Castle (I pulled the media card) even though it was closed, and watched the helicopter fly in front of the castle. I have a few photos I will try to post tomorrow. I am trying to catch up.

8:15 am – here are John Chesnut’s maps. The second one is from a 3 am run, and we think it is possible that all the heat showing SE of the castle may be heat in the column. I am driving by today, and might be able to get a photo, if conditions are right.

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Here is the IR Map:

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Note: the intense heat on the west side of the fire was as a result of a backfire operation behind the Castle.

IR Topo Map Link to PDF

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Progression Map Link to PDF

Soberanes Fire, Day 34, 8/24/16

4:30 pm – just spoke to the PIO on this fire, Jim, and he let me know that they were taking aDVANTAGE OF THE GOOD FLYING WEATHER TO BRING IN THE VLAT AND PRETREAT THE CONTAINMENT LINE FROM COLD SPRINGS TO ANDERSON PEAK, SO THEY CAN FIRE OFF WHEN IT IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO DO SO.

8:15 am –

Soberanes Fire
Los Padres National Forest Service
August 24, 2016

DAILY UPDATE

Fire Information Phone (831)204-0446
soberanesfire2016@gmail.com
Media Line: (831)484-9647
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4888/
http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1348

Incident: The Soberanes Fire was started by an Illegal campfire on the morning of July 22, 2016, in the Garrapta State Park. The fire is burning in areas of previous large fires including the Basin Complex in 2008 and the Marble-Cone Fire in 1977.
Location: Los Padres National Forest, Ventana Wilderness, Monterey County, CA
Agency Jurisdiction: CAL FIRE San Benito-Monterey Unit/Los Padres National Forest

Current Size: 88654 (51,460 CA-LPF, 37,194 CAL FIRE,) Containment: 60% Cause: Illegal campfire
Injuries: 1 fatality, 4 injuries Structures Destroyed: 57 homes, 11 outbuildings Structures Threatened: 410
Current Resources: Crews: 20 Engines: 54 Helicopters: 12 Dozers: 22 Water Tenders: 42
Total Personnel: 1,620

Fire Restrictions: Forest Order 05-07-16-15 Fire Use Restrictions – Level IV Fire Restrictions. This Order is effective from August 23, 2016, through the end of the official 2016 fire season.

Community Meeting: A community meeting will be held at the Cachagua General Store, located at 18840 Cachagua Road, Carmel Valley, CA on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 6:00 P.M.

Current Situation: The fire continues to move south and east of Miller Mountain in Hiding Camp Canyon, and farther south near the Ventana Cones. It has crossed Big Sur drainage below Mount Olmstead and remains within containment lines. Tomorrow’s marine layer is predicted to burn off mid-morning. This will produce the warmest temperatures of the week. Due to decreased humidity recovery through the night and drought conditions, fire behavior is expected to increase making aggressive runs up hill in the fire area. At present the fire is not expected to threaten the containment lines along Tassajara Road to the East or along Coast Ridge Road to the West.

The fire’s slow progress southward around Logwood Ridge is allowing firefighters to delay their tactical firing operations. Firing operations are only conducted when weather and conditions allow for its safe and effective use. Firefighters continue to widen and improve indirect containment lines east from Anderson peak to Santa Lucia Memorial Park and northward to Arroyo Seco. A Structure Protection Group has been formed to continue to assess and improve fire protection of structures within the projected growth of the fire.

Fire line repair continues in the Carmel Zone fire areas.

Wilderness Tactics: To reduce the impacts associated with fire suppression activities in wilderness areas, fire managers and firefighting crews continue using Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics as much as possible. The steep, rugged terrain of the Ventana Wilderness is inherently treacherous to firefighters. Most direct fireline is being constructed near the perimeter in areas that have been pretreated and supported by aircraft. The inaccessibility into the Ventana Wilderness along much of the fire’s east side continually requires patience, and slow and steady hard work from the crews, as they look for options to construct direct line.

The fire was caused by an illegal, unattended campfire on the Soberanes Canyon trail in the Garrapata State Park. Anyone with information is asked to call the CAL FIRE Tip Line at: (800) 468-4408. Fire managers want to remind the public that human caused fires are preventable. Please be aware of current fire restrictions and be careful with anything that could spark a fire.

US Forest Service Road and Trail Closures: A forest closure order has been implemented to close the trails and roads within the Los Padres National Forest, Monterey Ranger District pursuant to USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50(a). The order prohibits going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Soberanes Fire area. For a complete list of closures please visit: http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf . The following sites are open: Pfeiffer Beach Day Use, Mill Creek Day Use, Willow Creek Day Use, Sand Dollar Day Use, Kirk Creek Campground, Nacimiento Campground, Ponderosa Campground and Plaskett Creek Campground.

California State Park Closures: All California State Parks from Garrapata State Park through Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park are closed until further notice; this includes Point Sur State Historic Park (Lighthouse), Andrew Molera State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground and Day Use.

Evacuation Orders and Warnings: An evacuation ORDER remains in effect for Coast Ridge Rd. from mile marker 1.5 to Marble Peak at the end of the road. A WARNING remains for Tassajara Road from Carmel Valley Road to the Tassajara Hot Springs Zen Center. This area includes all roads that lead from the above described roads.

Donations: Local relief efforts to the fire victims have been provided by the Coast Property Owners Association (CPOA) and the Community Foundation for Monterey County. Donations can be made to the CPOA at Coast Property Owners Association, PO Box 59, Big Sur, CA 93920 or the Community Foundation for Monterey County, 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940 (831)375-9712.

The Red Cross prepares for, responds to, and helps people recover from disasters big and small. To donate, people can visit redcross.org/donate/, call 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. For any unmet disaster related needs, please call their 24 hour hotline at 1.866.272.2237.

Additional Cooperating and Assisting Organizations: California State Parks and Recreation, California Highway Patrol California Office of Emergency Services , California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, California National Guard, Big Sur Land Trust, California Department of Transportation, California National Guard, California Fish & Wildlife, Coast Property Owners Association (CPOA), Community Foundation for Monterey County, Bureau of Land Management, American Red Cross, County of Monterey, Pacific Gas and Electric, Carmel Highlands F.P.D., Monterey County Regional Fire Protection District, Mid Coast Volunteer Fire Brigade, Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Cachagua Fire Protection District.

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7:00 am – And here are two photos of the burn out operation at Mt. Olmstead:

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Above photo by Soaring

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Above photo by Tommy McDonald

6:30 am – here are the maps. I have a couple good photos of the burn operation yesterday afternoon that I will add as soon as I get the maps up for the Chimney Fire.

the IR Topo Map and Link:

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IR Top Map Link to PDF

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So Ops Map link to PDF

 

Fire Restrictions Elevated Today, 8/23/16

NEWS RELEASE

Los Padres National Forest
For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759
Twitter: @LosPadresNF
Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf

Los Padres National Forest Elevates Fire Restrictions

GOLETA, CA, August 23, 2016…Due to ongoing wildfires, extremely dry vegetation and very high fire danger, the Los Padres National Forest officials today announced Level IV fire restrictions will go into effect beginning today, August 23, 2016. The following restrictions will be rigorously enforced until the end of the declared fire season:
· Wood and charcoal fires are prohibited in all areas of Los Padres National Forest including designated Campfire Use sites; however persons with a valid California Campfire Permit are allowed to use portable stoves and lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel within the designated Campfire Use Sites only. California Campfire Permits are available for free download from the Los Padres National Forest website (http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf ). You must clear all flammable material for a distance of five feet in all directions from your camp stove, have a shovel available, and ensure that a responsible person attends the stove at all times when it is in use.

· Recreational target shooting is prohibited in all areas of the National Forest unless specifically authorized by a special use permit with the Forest; however, hunting with a valid State of California hunting license during open hunting season is exempt from this restriction.

· Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the national forest except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated Campfire Use Site.

· Fireworks are prohibited at all times and in all locations within Los Padres National Forest.
· Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order on roads and trails specifically designated for such use. (This restriction is in effect year-round.)

Violators are subject to a $5,000 fine and/or six months in jail, and could be liable for the full cost of any fire suppression activities that result from their actions. For further information regarding current conditions as well as safety tips, contact your nearest Forest Service office or visit the Los Padres National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf.
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Designated Campfire Use sites are ONLY at Kirk Creek Campground, Plaskett Creek Campground, and Nacimiento and Ponderosa Campgrounds within the LPNF.

Chimney Fire, 8/23/15

7:30 pm – Facts sheet:

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4:00 pm – Paso Robles Fairgrounds, photo by Joanne Latham Bklacford:

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3:00 pm – According to one of my more reliable sources, this fire has entered the SE corner of FHL near Waterdog Creek. That is just above the finger of fire on the west just crossing into Monterey County.

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If you want to do this yourself for a different part of the fire, go to the list of links to the right under 2016 Fire Season, then Current Wildland Fire Maps and click on that. You will have to search for the area you want, so, for example, if you are looking for Copperhead Road, search for the nearest area, such as Bryson Hesperia, CA.

1:45 pm – for those who have not seen this, here is a video taken by the Park Rangers Association of a boat navigating Nacimiento Lake with flames all around. It is short.

Video taken in boat on Lake Nacimiento

Here is an interesting map that will show you where this fire is in relation to most areas:

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Incident Update
Date: 8/23/2016 Time: 6:00AM
Fire Information Line: 805-543-2444

STATUS
Incident Start Date: 8/13/2016 Incident Start Time: 4:03 PM
Incident Type: Vegetation Fire Cause: Under Investigation
Incident Location: Chimney Rock Rd. & Running Deer Rd., South of Nacimiento Reservoir

Acreage: 37,101 acres Containment: 35%
Expected Containment: 08/29/2016 Injuries: 1
Structures Threatened: 1,896
Structures Destroyed: Residences 36 Other 16
Structures Damaged: 7

RESOURCES
Engines: 326 Water Tenders: 62 Helicopters: 17 Air Tankers: 7 Hand Crews: 107
Dozers: 46 Other: 3 Total Personnel: 3,983
Cooperating Agencies: California Highway Patrol, California State Parks, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff, Red Cross, California
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Conservation Corps, PG&E, San Luis Obispo Air Quality Board, San Luis Obispo Public Works, Paso Robles Fire Department, Monterey Co. Water Resource Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Army Camp Roberts, CAL-OES, San Luis Obispo OES, Monterey County Sheriff, Monterey County OES and USFS.

SITUATION
Overnight, fire behavior remained extreme. The fire continued to burn in steep terrain, along with very dry brush and timber. Once the morning inversion dissipates, winds will increase out of the south to southwest at 10MPH with gusts  around 20MPH. Temperatures and relative humidity will become wide spread, with temperatures in the 70’s on the western perimeter, to readings in the 90’s east of Rocky Butte Truck Trail. Upper level winds will turn out of north to northwest today, which will allow for the smoke aloft to drift towards the south-southeast of the Chimney Fire. Threats remain to Oak Shores, Christmas Cove, South Shore Village, Rancho Del Lago, Cal Shasta, Bryson Hesperia and Lake San Antonio. As with all evacuation orders and warnings, these are implemented for the safety of the public and firefighters. Please adhere to all orders, warnings, road closures and detours. Fire personnel are working in extreme fire conditions around the clock to contain and control the fire. Please do you part to be prepared to evacuate by visiting http://www.readyforwildfire.org .
Evacuations:
Ordered: Evacuation orders are in place for Christmas Cove, Oak Shores, North Shore Boat and Ski, Laguna Vista, South Shore Village, Rancho Del Lago, Cal Shasta, Lake San Antonio, Sapaqua Valley, and Bryson Hesperia in both San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties. Any residents that have yet to evacuate are asked to do so immediately due to increasing fire activity in your immediate area.

Evacuation Centers:
Flamson Middle School
2405 Spring Street
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Small Animals – Chimney Fire Animal Shelter can be contacted at (805)423-4934
Large Animals – Horse Emergency Evacuation Team (HEET) 805-466-7457
Large and Small Animals – Chimney Fire Animal Relief (805)423-4934
Road Closures: G14 Interlake Road from Lake Nacimiento Dam to Bryson Hesperia Road. Traffic control points are being manned by CHP at Interlake Road at Bryson Hesperia Road, as well as Interlake Road at Lake Nacimiento.
http://www.readyforwildfire.org

7:15 am – John Chesnut’s Map (the green line across is the MoCo/SLOCo line):

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7:00 am – Here is the IR map for today to get us started. I need to go start my coffee (TMI, right?) and then I’ll be back Intel gathering. CAL FIRE reported Tuesday morning that the Chimney Fire grew nearly 4,000 acres overnight to 37,101 acres burned. Containment of the blaze remains at 35%. Here is the link to the IR Topo map:

Topo IR PDF Map Link

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Soberanes Fire, Day 33, 8/23/15

1:30 pm – Firing Operation resumes today, still in Cold Springs area. Photo by Jeffrey Carmichael.

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8:00 am –

Soberanes Fire
Los Padres National Forest Service
August 23, 2016

DAILY UPDATE

Fire Information Phone (831)204-0446
Media Line: (831)484-9647
Email: soberanesfire2016@gmail.com
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4888/
http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1348

Incident: The Soberanes Fire was started by an Illegal campfire on the morning of July 22, 2016, in the Garrapta State Park. The fire is burning in areas of previous large fires including the Basin Complex in 2008 and the Marble-Cone Fire in 1977.
Location: Los Padres National Forest, Ventana Wilderness, Monterey County, CA
Agency Jurisdiction: CAL FIRE San Benito-Monterey Unit/Los Padres National Forest

Current Size: 87,316 acres (50,122 CA-LPF, 37,194 CAL FIRE,) Containment: 60% Cause: Illegal campfire
Injuries: 1 fatality, 4 injuries Structures Destroyed: 57 homes, 11 outbuildings Structures Threatened: 410
Current Resources: Crews: 32 Engines: 60 Helicopters: 12 Dozers: 27 Water Tenders: 45
Total Personnel: 1,988

Community Meeting: A community meeting will be held at the Cachagua General Store, located at 18840 Cachagua Road, Carmel Valley, CA on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 6:00 P.M.

Current Situation: The fire continues to slowly move south and east of Miller Mountain in Hiding Camp Canyon, and farther south near the Ventana Cones. Fire behavior remains a slow backing and flanking fire through an eight year old fuel bed of grass, brush and timber litter. Near the coast range, the fire continues to flank southward in the Big Sur drainage below Mount Olmstead. Aircraft was utilized yesterday to cool and slow the southward progression of the fire. At present, there is no threat to the completed indirect containment lines along Tassajara Road to the east nor along Coast Ridge Road to the west.

Firing operations have not occurred for several days. The fire’s slow progress southward around Logwood Ridge is allowing firefighters to delay their tactical firing operations. These firing operations allow firefighters safer conditions while creating containment lines east of Coast Ridge Road. Firing operations are only conducted when weather and conditions allow for safe and effective operations. Firefighters continue to widen and improve indirect containment lines east from Anderson peak to Santa Lucia Memorial Park and northward to Arroyo Seco. These indirect lines are built on the ridges that stopped the Basin Complex of 2008.

California Interagency Incident Management Team Three, CAL FIRE and cooperators wish to thank the California National Guard for their contributions and support of the team efforts on the Soberanes Fire.

Wilderness Tactics: To reduce the impacts associated with fire suppression activities in wilderness areas, fire managers and firefighting crews continue using Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics as much as possible. The steep, rugged terrain of the Ventana Wilderness is inherently treacherous to firefighters. Most direct fireline is being constructed near the perimeter in areas that have been pretreated and supported by aircraft. The inaccessibility into the Ventana Wilderness along much of the fire’s east side continually requires patience, and slow and steady hard work from the crews, as they look for options to construct direct line.

The fire was caused by an illegal, unattended campfire on the Soberanes Canyon trail in the Garrapata State Park. Anyone with information is asked to call the CAL FIRE Tip Line at: (800) 468-4408. Fire managers want to remind the public that human caused fires are preventable. Please be aware of current fire restrictions and be careful with anything that could spark a fire.

US Forest Service Road and Trail Closures: A forest closure order has been implemented to close the trails and roads within the Los Padres National Forest, Monterey Ranger District pursuant to USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50(a). The order prohibits going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Soberanes Fire area. For a complete list of closures please visit: http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf . The following sites are open: Pfeiffer Beach Day Use, Mill Creek Day Use, Willow Creek Day Use, Sand Dollar Day Use, Kirk Creek Campground, Nacimiento Campground, Ponderosa Campground and Plaskett Creek Campground.

California State Park Closures: All California State Parks from Garrapata State Park through Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park are closed until further notice; this includes Point Sur State Historic Park (Lighthouse), Andrew Molera State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground and Day Use.

Evacuation Orders: An evacuation ORDER remains in effect for Coast Ridge Rd. from mile marker 1.5 to Marble Peak at the end of the road.

Evacuation Warnings: A WARNING remains for Tassajara Road from Carmel Valley Road to the Tassajara Hot Springs Zen Center. This area includes all roads that lead from the above described roads.

Donations: Local relief efforts to the fire victims have been provided by the Coast Property Owners Association (CPOA) and the Community Foundation for Monterey County. Donations can be made to the CPOA at Coast Property Owners Association, PO Box 59, Big Sur, CA 93920 or the Community Foundation for Monterey County, 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940 (831)375-9712.

The Red Cross prepares for, responds to, and helps people recover from disasters big and small. To donate, people can visit redcross.org/donate/, call 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. For any unmet disaster related needs, please call their 24 hour hotline at 1.866.272.2237.

Additional Cooperating and Assisting Organizations: California State Parks and Recreation, California Highway Patrol California Office of Emergency Services , California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, California National Guard, Big Sur Land Trust, California Department of Transportation, California National Guard, California Fish & Wildlife, Coast Property Owners Association (CPOA), Community Foundation for Monterey County, Bureau of Land Management, American Red Cross, County of Monterey, Pacific Gas and Electric, Carmel Highlands F.P.D., Monterey County Regional Fire Protection District, Mid Coast Volunteer Fire Brigade, Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Cachagua Fire Protection District.
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.

7:15 am – John Chesnut’s Map:

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7:00 am – Here is a aborted water drop last night near Lower Stone Ridge after a bucket at Rancho Grande, Photo by Jane Magida (the bucket got tangled in the pick up)

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6:30 am – Here are a couple of the maps and their links:

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Topo PDF map link

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So Ops PDF Map Link

Chimney Fire, 8/22/16

This came in at 7, but I was watching a movie, and then I couldn’t get my internet up and running properly, but here it is at long last:

CHIMNEY FIRE, 7 P.M. MONDAY, AUG. 22.
The fire situation is reportedly very dynamic tonight, especially in the Lake Nacimiento area. The information below likely was compiled during a rapid onslaught of fire that reportedly destroyed a number of homes in the South Shore Village area.

Chimney Fire
Incident Update
Date: 8/22/2016 Time: 6:00PM
Fire Information Line: 805-543-2444

STATUS
Incident Start Date: 8/13/2016 Incident Start Time: 4:03 PM
Incident Type: Vegetation Fire Cause: Under Investigation
Incident Location: Chimney Rock Rd. & Running Deer Rd., South of Nacimiento Reservoir

Acreage: 33,173 acres Containment: 35%
Expected Containment: 08/29/2016 Injuries: 1
Structures Threatened: 1,898

Structures Destroyed:
Residences 36 (up from 34 this morning).
Other 16 (up from 14 this morning).
Structures Damaged: 7

RESOURCES
Engines: 311 Water Tenders: 46 Helicopters: 17 Air Tankers: 7 Hand Crews: 104
Dozers: 46 Other: 3 Total Personnel: 3,813
Cooperating Agencies: California Highway Patrol, California State Parks, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff, Red Cross, California
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Conservation Corps, PG&E, San Luis Obispo Air Quality Board, San Luis Obispo Public Works, Paso Robles Fire Department, Monterey Co. Water Resource Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Army Camp Roberts, CAL-OES, San Luis Obispo OES, Monterey County Sheriff, Monterey County OES and USFS.

SITUATION
Current Situation:
Today, fire behavior was extreme and continued to challenge the control lines. The fire is currently burning through Rocky Butte area and into Monterey County west of Lake San Antonio. Threats remain to Oak Shores, Christmas Cove, South Shore Village, Rancho Del Lago, Cal Shasta, Bryson Hesperia and Lake San Antonio.
Once the morning inversion broke, the winds increased out of the southwest at 10 mph with gusts out of the south
around 20 mph. Damage assessment is ongoing.
As with all evacuation orders and warnings, these are
implemented for the safety of the public and firefighters. Please adhere to all orders, warnings, road closures and detours. Fire personnel are working in extreme fire conditions around the clock to contain and control the fire.
Please do your part to be prepared to evacuate by visiting http://www.readyforwildfire.org .
Evacuations:
Ordered: Evacuation orders are in place for Christmas Cove, Oak Shores, North Shore Boat and Ski, Laguna Vista, South Shore Lake San Antonio, Sapaqua Valley, and Bryson Hesperia in both San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties. Any residents that have yet to evacuate are asked to do so immediately due to increasing fire activity in your immediate area.
Evacuation Centers:
Flamson Middle School
2405 Spring Street
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Small Animals – Chimney Fire Animal Shelter can be contacted at (805)423-4934
Large Animals – Horse Emergency Evacuation Team (HEET) 805-466-7457
Large and Small Animals – Chimney Fire Animal Relief (805)423-4934
Road Closures: G14 Interlake Road from Lake Nacimiento Dam to Bryson Hesperia Road. Traffic control points are being
manned by CHP at Interlake Road at Bryson Hesperia Road, as well as Interlake Road at Lake Nacimiento.

For updates, check at http://www.sanluisobispo.com

5:00 pm – from FHL: “Interlake Rd is closed from Lake Nacimiento Dam to Bryson Hesperia Rd due to Chimney Fire. CHP is conducting traffic control. Expect More road closures. Call CALFIRE at (805) 242-3640 or 831-386-2513 for updates. Please drive safely and allow emergency response vehicles pass.”

http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1389

4:30 pm – from a friend: “Hi Kate I’m on my property off Bryson Hisperia Rd a little past the Hisperia/ Smith road turn off. Fire is in the bottom of the creek to the west of us in Forest River that’s where they are keeping it from jumping Bryson Hisperia road. Just an up date for you”

3:45 pm – 3 fully involved structure fires in Oak Shores, per Div. M

3:00 pm –

CAL FIRE NEWS RELEASE
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
CONTACT: INFORMATION LINE
RELEASE DATE: August 22, 2016
(805) 543-2444 TIME: 2:00 p.m.
CHIMNEY FIRE:

EVACUATION ORDERS:
This message is to reinforce that evacuation orders are in place for
Christmas Cove, Oak Shores, North Shore Boat and Ski, Laguna Vista, South Shore Lake San Antonio, Sapaqua Valley, and Bryson Hesperia in both San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties.
Any residents that have yet to evacuate are asked to do so immediately due to increasing fire activity in your immediate area.
ROAD CLOSURES: G14 Interlake Road from Lake Nacimiento Dam to Bryson Hesperia Road. Traffic control points are being manned by CHP at Interlake Road at Bryson Hesperia Road, as well as Interlake Road at Lake Nacimiento.
When you evacuate be sure to take any medications, pets, family valuables etc. with you, close all windows including window coverings, and leave all doors closed.
All residents are asked to be READY: Create and maintain defensible space and harden your home against flying embers. Get SET: Prepare your family and home ahead of time for the possibility of having to evacuate.
Be Ready to GO! Take the evacuation steps necessary to give your family and home the best chance of surviving a wildfire.
For more information on Ready, Set, Go, go to http://www.readyforwildfire.org
For additional information on the Chimney Fire, please call the
Information Line at (805) 543-2444. Or visit CAL FIRE online @
http://www.fire.ca.gov
###

7:30 am – Here are John Chesnut’s maps – two from different angles:

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7:00 am – This morning the total acreage is given as 31,644 and containment is still 35%. You will note that this fire crept into Monterey County last night.

IR Ortho Map:

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