Final size, per WildCAD=LPF was 1/10th of an acre. Here are photos taken by Cainan Schierholtz, who first smelled it. It was in the second Eucalyptus grove south of Jade Cove. It clearly had escaped its ring, contrary to what was originally dispatched.

Thanks Cainan for catching it and for sending me photos. Could have been MUCH worse in that Eucalyptus Grove. Nice catch, LPF.

Megan Handy said it was at PM 13, but this says 11. Plaskett is 13.58. Lat/Long puts it north of Plaskett but south of Nacimiento. There is nothing on the CHP site. I’ve looked, and it is foggy on some of that section of the coast, but I see no plume, so not worried. I will, however, keep an eye on things this afternoon.

Recent Incidents (Prepared 07/13/2016 13:32)

Date Inc # Name Type Location WebComment Resources IC Fuels Acres Lat/Lon
07/13/2016 13:18 LPF-2277
New Wildfire MM 1 11.00 CAL TRANS/ WILLOW SPRGSM . PAT17LPF Q . . . 35.887 x 121.459

3:00 pm – Here is what LPF WildCAD says:

Recent Incidents (Prepared 07/10/2016 14:45)

Date Inc # Name Type Location WebComment Resources IC Fuels Acres Lat/Lon
07/10/2016 14:11 LPF-2225
grenade Wildfire jolon rd at mprc . DIV1LPF E15LPF 4X4 E16LPF 4X4 . . . 35.970 x 121.196

Here is what it looks like from 101, just south of King City:

Perhaps we will be next. We have not only the dead pines, but the dead oaks from SOD.

I received a number of traffic reports from readers for Sunday, July 3. It was beyond a nightmare. Suzy Cowan Tennyson reported it took her 58 minutes to travel (between 4 and 4:58) what is usually 30 mins from River Inn to Rio RD. She counted the vehicles. 1736, South Bound only! She said at River Inn all day it was almost gridlock with all the cars headed southbound.

John Galt, on the same day, took this photo. It took him two hours to reach Rocky Point from Rio Road, usually a 15 min drive. (He took this photo at 5:11) Cars were lined up from Bixby Bridge all the way back to Rocky Point. It took him another hour to travel from Rocky Point to River Inn.

So, if one was traveling north on Sunday, it took twice as long as usual to reach Rio RD. But if one was traveling south on Highway One, it took TEN TIMES normal driving times to reach Big Sur Valley.

Here  is one from Amy Hall taken Saturday night:

We have studied this before, made predictions and recommendations, but have accomplished nothing. We have to change direction.

I’ve been going through this document (thanks for sending it Laurie and Tim Green), but it is tedious and will take some time. I will add photos of various pages of interest to the Overuse Page, as I go. I also have made a FOIA request to Cal Trans for any other traffic monitoring reports made from 1979 to the present. Will see what they say. Also, I will be requesting statistics from the State Park on visitor levels.

We are way beyond capacity on Highway One, the back country, and the entire length of Big Sur. It is a problem which is not going away and which must be faced and addressed. For my part, I just bought 5 Marathon C0200003 counters from Amazon, the only ones which are 5 digit instead of the usual 4 for only $7.95 each. I hope to pass out a few (I’ll leave one with Suzy or Rick at the River Inn) and use a few at strategic places right on the highway for an hour, or so. Any of you who decide to do the same thing, send the info to me at kwnovoa@mac.com. Make sure to include the date, day of the week, and time with your stats.

 

“On this national holiday, the majority of the public is enjoying the time with friends and family, having a good meal, and watching fireworks commemorating our Nation’s independence.

On the Los Padres National Forest we have had an early start to the 2016 wildfire season. Over the past month the Forest has managed the Coleman wildfire on the Monterey District, the Sherpa wildfire on the Front Range of Santa Barbara, and now the ongoing Pine wildfire in the Sespe wilderness.

During this busy time, I wanted to pause and thank the firefighters, law enforcement, support and overhead staffs for their superb efforts, hard work, and self sacrifice that has occurred on these fires to prevent loss of life and property and minimize damages to resources.

I also wanted to specifically thank the families on this National Holiday for allowing your firefighter to be away, in service to a greater good. I know that your fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters will not be able to join in the celebrations today and you are specifically feeling their absence.

You need to know that those who fight wildfires make a difference in people’s lives, and continue to help manage wildfires destructive impacts to the citizen’s of California’s central coast and beyond.

To those from all partner agencies in fire and law enforcement supporting the ongoing wildfire operations, please accept my thanks for your personal sacrifice, and please pass on to your families how much I appreciate their role in supporting your loved one on the fireline and on duty in preparation for the next fire start.

It is people like you who are selfless in their devotion to duty, who endure separation from family and friends, and who are willing to put themselves in harms way to protect others that display the highest form of patriotism.

Thanks to you all and please pass this on to your families.
Continue to be safe,
Bob

Forest Service Shield
Robert Baird
Forest Supervisor
Forest Service
Los Padres National Forest”

All of us in Big Sur would add our thanks. Firefighters have been here time and time again for us. Blessings, all.

7:00 – now up to 100 acres and having trouble finding water for the Helios to dip from, so going back to the source for the Curry Fire, east of this one.

6:11 – In a matter of minutes, this has grown from a 1.5 acres to 12 acres and is now on both sides of 198.

Incident: 00329 Type: Report of Fire Location: Sr198/fresno County Line Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 0:0
Detail Information
5:52 PM 3 [9] 1039 CARLOS MORGA W/ C/T 831-262-6784 FOR CLOSURE AT COUNTY LINE AND SIGNAGE AT 101/198 – AT LEAST 1HR ETA
5:46 PM 2 [8] PER 8-42 – REQ CT SET UP SIGNS FOR RD CLOSURE AT 101/198
5:41 PM 1 [2] FR547 IS CLOSER TO MTRY CO SIDE AND IS VEG FIRE
Unit Information
5:46 PM 1 Unit Assigned
Hay barn involved and 1.5 acres wild land, getting into heavier fuels. if it crosses the road potential for 50+.
8 engines, 1 tender, paso tankers and AA.
AA was first on scene on his way home from Columbia.
FKU & BEU aren’t sure who’s county it’s in, AA just knows it’s near Priest Valley Road.
Based on flight radar, looks to be along Frame Ln.