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

*******************************************************************

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.

9:00 pm – I am trying to catch up with my email, FB, Twitter, etc. after  a day on the road and the fundraiser tonight. (Sorry I couldn’t stay around, it was way too crowded and way to loud for this gal.) I had hoped to meet some of you, but it just wasn’t to be. There is so much to say, and do, and be, but after 17 days, I am tired … As we all are. I don’t hold the title to that, we do. The battle is not over, in fact, in some ways, it has just begun for Big Sur, and I need to get up to fighting speed and strength again. I may not wake at 6 am tomorrow, as I am no longer at home with the early dawn of elevation looking down on me and nudging me toward wakefulness. I am in unfamiliar territory where my exhaustion may win. Rest, but be ever vigilant, as this monster does not want to let go.

Sikorsky @Rancho Grande by Heather Foster:

Evacuation of Big Sur clarification:

2:30 pm – Scott Moffatt has some incredible photos of the progression of the fire starting at 4 am.

Scott Moffatt Photos

1:30 pm – drove through the entire length of Big Sur this morning. It was so smokey, I couldn’t see much of anything. ALL the businesses were closed, from Deetjen’s to River Inn, but the tourists were flocking through. There was little police presence, only at Sycamore’s Hard Closure. Tourists were tearing down the yellow tape all over JPBurns, but I saw no one of authority.

That makes perfect sense … Keep the people out who know the area and know how to be safe, who have lived through numerous wildfires, and let the clueless tourist wander about with abandon.How was this for the local’s safety, again? What am I missing here? In what uninverse is a wildfire safer for the clueless than for the experienced?

12:30 pm – just had lovely lunch at Sur. When I get settled in up here I will tell you my observations driving through Big Sur.

This is Stan Russell and appears to be the “party line” and not what I am hearing or observing. “The evacuation notice issued last night was issued because a 40 MPH wind kicked up and pushed the fire over the dozer line. The slop over fire was a 100 acres. This is the main fire that made the run.

Operations today; they are burning off the dozer lines – back firing. The operation is going well. (Really??)

They will have full air support as soon as they can fly safely. They also have portable fire retardant stations to load up the helicopters.

They weren’t able to back burn the area behind Mount Manuel yesterday.

There will be Public Information Officers posted today at Big Sur Station, Post Office area, Big Sur Bakery, Fernwood Resort, Nepenthe, Ripplewood, and I recommended posting one at the River Inn which he said he would do. They will have sandwich boards with maps and be able to answer your questions.”

At this point the Sheriff’s Department is NOT closing Highway 1, which makes no sense. As one business manager says, “The tourists are allowed in but owners and workers aren’t?”

7:00 am – from Ken Wright who says flames are visible in the north fork of Juan Higuera

7:00 am – From Jen Smith on Clear Ridge

7:00 am – From Ed Van Weijen on Clear Ridge

7:00 am – For all of those asking if Highway One is open — I don’t know, yet, but PLEASE, if you don’t have any business being down here, don’t come. All businesses have been evacuated and are telling employees not to come to work. We don’t need any more gawkers. AND just got word it is expected to close this am at Bixby Bridge.

6:45 – Dawn on Mt Manuel from Pfeiffer Ridge by Kyle Evans

6:30 am – by now, all of you have heard of the evacuation order for Big Sur Valley from the Lighthouse to just north of Deetjen’s, both sides. I will be following developments throughout the day, however, I will be heading out the door at 8:30 am into cell phone no-man’s land for a while. When I have reception again, I will check in. This is my day to go north to Monterey for a couple days of R&R. (LOL, as if) but will be online on and off.

6:30 pm –
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is lifting evacuation orders for the area of Garrapata Trout Farm Road and Weston Ridge Road (aka Garrapata Ridge Road). This excludes the driveway north of Trout Farm road.
Palo Colorado Road and the driveway north of Garrapata Trout Farm Road remain under evacuation orders.

4:28 pm – Per Kathleen Lee of Dave Potter’s Office (who by the way has been tireless in her assistance during this fire) states she was notified by the IC that they started back burns 10 mins. Ago. YAY

3:30 pm – Post Summit

3:21 pm – Just received this photo from Lacie via Ed of the top of Post Summit:

3:10 pm – from ED Van Weijen:

2:45 pm – this is what it looks like NOW from Clear Ridge, photo by Eduardo Eizner, says it is back of the Little Sur.

2:15 pm – Repopulation is taking place in the White Rock area. The evacuation Order has been made a warning for portions of Cachagua and Tassajara. Cachagua Rd. between Nason Rd and Trampa Canyon Rd and Nason Road are still under an Evacuation Order.

2:10 PM – LOST DOG, CHASE, IN THE HIGHLANDS WAS REUNITED WITH ITS OWNER TODAY, DUE TO ALAN, WHO READS THIS BLOG, AND SAW CHASE AND CONTACTED ME AND THEN OWNER.

2:00 pm – There will be a public community meeting at the MAF on Monday, August 8, 2016, at 6:00PM. This will be a briefing to provide an update on the Soberanes Fire progress and containment efforts. If you have questions, this is your opportunity to get answers.

Over the past couple of days, planes and helicopters have been applying retardant on areas around Post Summit and Mt. Manuel in part in preparation for back fires that are planned for this weekend. There will be an increase in smoke today as a result of the back fires used to slow further advancement of the fire. (I am supposed to be notified when they start back burning, and of course, I will notify all of you.)

11:00 am – “Cal fire briefing confirmed. Today two pm Cachagua general store. Intended audience are us still inside road closure and yes will be allowed to return to property. Please trevel with drivers license, and a residential bill like PG E bill that matches your drivers license.” From Jolene

9:30 am – FOUND PARAKEET:

“Have a very pretty parakeet hanging around the house this morning. Have put bird seed out for the bird to eat and fresh water. Not letting us get too close. Currently sitting in a redwood next to the driveway. 667-2182. No idea where he came from out talking to CHP this morning when it flew onto the truck rack!”

And BTW, the lost dog in the Highlands was spotted at 8 am in the highlands and trying to get the spotter and owner together.

9:00 am – Just a reminder that the Local Assistance Center is now underway at Carmel Mission Inn, 3665 Rio Road in Carmel. Will be open until 3. Hope folks will come take advantage of having all these services in one place.

This is for information and services for those displaced/affected by the fire. Many agencies (both state and local) are on hand to help with record replacement, property tax relief, community benefits, insurance issues, permits assistance, home inspections, hazardous waste removal among other issues.

7:30 am – Facts sheet important details. Containment still 40%, acres up to 55,600. There is a burn out operation scheduled for today, but Cal Fire did not indicate where it would be, although I suspect it will be the one behind or between Post Summit and Mt. Manuel to protect Big Sur Valley.

6:00 am – I think I was remiss last night in not posting the facts sheet, or at least the acreage and containment. Acres is 53,900 – now up to 55,682 per IR flight before midnight – but containment is UP to 40%. YAY!! We are watching Big Sur Valley closely, today. Expecting a burn out operation this weekend, hopefully, if conditions are right, today. Another day of waking to no visibility due to smokey conditions. As always, I will be posting information here as soon as it is received, or shortly thereafter.